ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Campaigns

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on  (a) all environmental campaigns,  (b) the Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge (TCTC) campaign and  (c) the Tomorrow's England initiative funded by the TCTC budget, in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) Defra was created in June 2001. Since then, Defra has funded various environmental campaigns through the core Department and key delivery partners. The costs are as follows:
	
		
			  Defra spend on combined environmental campaigns including delivery partners( 1) 
			   Expenditure (£000) 
			 2000-01 18,864 
			 2001-02 12,058 
			 2002-03 11,275 
			 2003-04 14,814 
			 2004-05 22,144 
			 2005-06 25,137 
			 (1) Includes activity from Environment Agency, Envirowise, WRAP, Encams, Carbon Trust, Energy Saving Trust. 
		
	
	 (b) The Climate Change Communications Initiative was launched in December 2005 and used the slogan Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge as its campaign branding. The costs to date are as follows:
	
		
			  Defra spend on the Climate Change Communications Initiative 
			   Expenditure (£000) 
			 2005-06 1,150 
			 2006-07(1) 4,505 
			 (1) To date. 
		
	
	 (c) The Tomorrow's England project started in September 2006 is one of 83 projects funded from the Challenge Fund element of the Climate Change Communications Initiative. Funding for this project in 2006-07 was £35,232.

Departmental Campaigns

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual  (a) resource costs,  (b) capital expenditure costs and  (c) staffing costs were of each environment campaign promoted by the Government at today's prices in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Defra was created in June 2001. Since then, Defra has funded various environmental campaigns through the core department and its key delivery partners. The costs are as follows:
	 Defra—Climate Change Communications Initiative
	In December 2005 a new £12 million campaign called "Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge" was launched designed to raise public awareness of and change attitudes to climate change. The costs to date are as follows:
	
		
			  Defra—Climate Change Communications Initiative 
			  £000 
			   Expenditure  Expenditure at 2006-07 prices 
			 2005-06 (1,2,3)1,150 1,181 
			 2006-07 (to date) (4,5,6)4,505 4,505 
			 The figures include the following elements with the remainder being resource costs: (1) Resource cost £477,000 (2) Capital cost £643,000 for film, brochures, website etc. (3) Staff cost £30,000 (4) Resource cost £3,645,000 (5) Capital cost £607,000 for film, brochures, website etc. (6) Staff cost £253,000. 
		
	
	 Defra—Every Action Counts
	
		
			  Defra—Every Action Counts 
			  £000 
			   Expenditure  Expenditure at 2006-07 prices 
			 2005-06 0 0 
			 2006-07 (to date) (1)1,600 1,600 
			 (1) Defra is providing around £4 million over three years for the Every Action Counts initiative. This started in 2006-07. It is delivered by a partnership of third sector organisations. There are 12 staff working in these voluntary organisations who are being funded through this scheme at a total salary cost of £284,762. 
		
	
	 Environment Agency
	The two main environmental campaigns run by the Environment Agency are World Environment Day and Flood Awareness.
	The first World Environment Day was held in 2004. The total campaign costs are as follows:
	
		
			  World Environment Day 
			  £000 
			   Expenditure  Expenditure at 2006-07 prices 
			 2004 150 157 
			 2005 150 154 
			 2006 250 250 
		
	
	The Flood Awareness Campaign delivers a rolling programme of public awareness initiatives across England and Wales. In 1999 the Government and the Environment Agency Board approved a 10-year £2 million per annum business case to fund the campaign.
	Staff costs and resource breakdowns are not available.
	 Envirowise
	Envirowise is a business support programme funded by Government to help companies make cost savings from environmental improvements.
	
		
			  Envirowise( 1) 
			  £000 
			   Expenditure  Expenditure at 2006-07 prices 
			 1998-99 — — 
			 1999-2000 — — 
			 2000-01 1,138 1,304 
			 2001-02 1,229 1,393 
			 2002-03 1,236 1,363 
			 2003-04 1,267 1,360 
			 2004-05 1,286 1,345 
			 2005-06 3,431 3,523 
			 (1) Envirowise was created in 2000 as the successor programme to the Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme. From 2005-06 funding was increased to allow the programme to support all businesses affected by increases in Landfill Tax. Figures above refer to total expenditure, including staff and resource costs, for all market research, impact measurement, marketing campaigns, website hosting and maintenance, best practice workshops and guides. Resource and staff costs are not available separately. 
		
	
	 WRAP
	
		
			  Waste and Resources Action programme( 1) —National recycling communications campaign 
			  £000 
			   Expenditure  Expenditure at 2006-07 prices 
			 1997-98 — — 
			 1998-99 — — 
			 1999-2000 — — 
			 2000-01 — — 
			 2001-02 — — 
			 2002-03 — — 
			 2003-04 (2)517 555 
			 2004-05 (3,4)5,431 5,678 
			 2005-06 (5)5,018 5,153 
			 (1) The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is funded by Defra, the devolved Administrations. WRAP was formed in 2000 and began work in 2001. Figures supplied by WRAP. (2) Staff numbers 2 (rounded estimate), staff cost £55,000. (3) Staff numbers 4.5, staff cost £115,000. (4) Under their second business plan WRAP have committed a total of £10.966 million to a national campaign "Recycle Now" over the three year period 2003-06. (5 )Staff numbers 2.5 (directly attributable), staff cost £118,000. 
		
	
	 ENCAMS
	
		
			  ENCAMS 
			  £000 
			   Expenditure  Expenditure at 2006-07 prices 
			 1997-98 3,997 4,864 
			 1998-99 3,697 4,405 
			 1999-2000 3,762 4,406 
			 2000-01 3,542 4,099 
			 2001-02 3,762 4,265 
			 2002-03 (1)3,597 3,967 
			 2003-04 3,574 3,835 
			 2004-05 (2)4,542 4,749 
			 2005-06 (2)5,542 5,691 
			 (1) In addition to this expenditure Defra allocated an additional £1 million to local authorities through ENCAMS for the Local Environmental Quality Pathfinder Programme that forged partnerships between local authorities and the local community. Some of the projects developed reduced fast food litter, railway land litter and schools litter. (2) ENCAMS baseline grant was increased by £1 million in 2004-05, and is being increased by a further £1 million in 2005-06. 
		
	
	Government funding is provided to ENCAMS (formerly Tidy Britain Group) annually. This funding supports ENCAMS work on a range of local environmental quality issues, including programmes to discourage littering.
	Staff and resource figures are not available
	 Carbon Trust
	The Carbon Trust, an independent company funded by Defra, spent the following on its Marketing Campaign.
	
		
			  Carbon Trust 
			  £000 
			   Expenditure  Expenditure at 2006-07 prices 
			 1997-98 — — 
			 1998-99 — — 
			 1999-2000 — — 
			 2000-01 — — 
			 2001-02 — — 
			 2002-03 (1)700 772 
			 2003-04 3,300 3,541 
			 2004-05 3,600 3,764 
			 2005-06 3,800 3,697 
			 (1) The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001-02 but did not begin marketing activity until 2002-03. Figure for 2002-03 is total marketing expenditure. Figures for 2003-04 and 2004-05 represent expenditure on awareness campaigns. 
		
	
	Figures for resource breakdown are not available as the Carbon Trust does not distinguish between these categories in the funding information it provides to Defra.
	 Energy Saving Trust
	The Energy Saving Trust, an independent company funded by Defra, spent the following on its Energy Efficiency Consumer Marketing Campaign.
	
		
			  Energy Saving Trust 
			  £000 
			   Expenditure  Expenditure at 2006-07 prices 
			 1997-98 (1)3,313 4,032 
			 1998-99 3,532 4,149 
			 1999-2000 3,726 4,365 
			 2000-01 4,208 4,870 
			
			 2001-02 6,542 7,416 
			 Staff (488) (553) 
			 Resource (6,054) (6,863) 
			
			 2002-03 5,742 6,332 
			 Staff (487) (537) 
			 Resource (5,255) (5,795) 
			
			 2003-04 6,038 6,479 
			 Staff (560) (601) 
			 Resource (5,478) (5,878) 
			
			 2004-05 (2)8,453 8,838 
			 Staff (547) (572) 
			 Resource (7,906) (8,266) 
			
			 2005-06 5,946 6,105 
			 Staff (511) (524) 
			 Resource (5,435) (5,580) 
			 (1) Figures for 1997-98 to 2000-01 inclusive show advertising expenditure only and include a small amount of Scottish Executive support. (2) Figures for 2004-05 have been updated as the previous figures supplied for PQ 0622 (March 2005) were an estimated outturn including a separate campaign to promote energy efficiency in the run-up to the start of the Energy Efficiency Commitment for 2005-08. 
		
	
	 "Are you doing your bit?"
	
		
			  DETR/Defra: "Are you doing you bit?" campaign 
			  £000 
			   Expenditure  Expenditure at 2006-07 prices 
			 1997-98 0 0 
			 1998-99 3,809 4,539 
			 1999-2000 7,666 8,980 
			 2000-01 9,976 11,545 
			 2001-02 525 595 
			 2002-03 (1)0 0 
			 2003-04 0 0 
			 2004-05 0 0 
			 2005-06 0 0 
			 (1) This campaign served to raise public awareness and to encourage individual action to help the environment. However, in the absence of an underpinning legal requirement, it was considered to be of lower priority than the Department's other environmental programmes which bodies such as the Energy Savings Trust and NGOs will deliver. Winding down the campaign helped deliver savings of £3.4 million pa from 2005-06 onwards. 
		
	
	Staff and resource figures are not available.
	All expenditure at 2006-07 prices has been calculated using the GDP deflator tables from HM Treasury. Since similar questions were answered there have been changes in accounting practices which have given rise to variations in some of the figures given in this answer.

Energy: Conservation

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of local authority compliance with provisions in the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, with particular reference to the performance of Birmingham city council.

Ian Pearson: Birmingham city council has reported a 21.5 per cent. improvement in energy efficiency in residential accommodation to March 2005 under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA). Defra has provided annual written feedback to all English local authorities in response to their HECA reports.
	We are currently carrying out a review of HECA, which fulfils a commitment made in the Energy White Paper 2003. The review is due to end shortly.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has commissioned into the methodology of including avoided deforestation in the Kyoto Protocol carbon trading rules.

Ian Pearson: Any access to carbon markets will require methodologies to measure emissions from deforestation, because it is necessary to estimate whether a reduction in emissions has been achieved relative to an agreed level. Methodologies to do this have been developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as part of its work on land use, land use change and forestry. The UK made a large contribution to the detailed scientific work and overall guidance of this effort.
	The Natural Environmental Research Council is currently considering proposals for work under its Quantifying and Understanding the Earth System (QUEST) programme that deal with the practicalities of biosphere management including emissions reduction from deforestation. One £350,000 study will explicitly address methodologies for avoided deforestation (along with forest management and bioenergy production) under the Kyoto Protocol. The other planned study (£500,000) investigates the mitigation potential of avoided deforestation compared with other activities, in a context of optimal sustainability.

Flood Control: Finance

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the proportion of Government funding for flood defences planned to be dedicated to  (a) maintenance and  (b) new build of defences in 2006-07.

Ian Pearson: Defra's current allocation of Flood Risk Grant in Aid for the Environment Agency (EA) for 2006-07 is £419 million. Of this, the EA estimates £153 million will be spent on maintenance-related activities and £196 million on the capital improvement programme, with the balance funding other activities.
	Some £13 million of Defra grant will be spent by local authorities (LAs) and internal drainage boards (IDBs) on capital flood risk improvement projects.
	Funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will support estimated LA expenditure of £72 million on their levies to the EA and IDBs (£23 million and £27 million respectively, some of which will be spent on capital improvement works). LA's own spend on flood risk management operations and maintenance is estimated at £22 million.
	LAs estimate spend of £66 million of Defra grant for coast protection capital improvement projects and £14 million on coastal erosion maintenance and operations supported by DCLG. Both expenditures are primarily to defend against coastal erosion but often also provide benefits against flooding from the sea.

Flood Control: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the main headings are in the budget for flood defence spending; what budget has been allocated for each of the next three years; and what the decision-making process is for the allocation of these funds.

Ian Pearson: Defra has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England, funds most of the Environment Agency's (EA) flood-related work and grant-aids individual capital improvement projects undertaken by local authorities and internal drainage boards. The programme to manage risk is driven by these operating authorities within the framework of desired outcomes for the programme and investment prioritisation approach set by Defra. Defra does not carry out works directly, and nor does it direct the authorities on which specific individual projects to undertake.
	Within the overall budget for flood and coastal erosion risk management, Defra allocates funding as follows, with the 2007-08 allocation in brackets:
	(i) Grant in Aid to the EA for flood risk management (£435.7 million).
	(ii) Funding to local authorities and internal drainage boards for capital flood risk improvement projects, channelled through the EA (£21.2 million).
	(iii) Funding to local authorities for capital coast protection improvement projects (£46.1 million). These are primarily to defend against coastal erosion but often also provide benefits against flooding from the sea.
	(iv) Other spend such as research and development, consultancies, Defra running costs (£6 million).
	The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) also provides significant support to local authorities for further expenditure on flood risk management activities through its local government funding mechanism.
	Funding in 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be considered in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.
	Grant in Aid for the EA, comprises of two parts. Firstly, funding transferred from DCLG to Defra which had previously been provided to the EA by local authorities via DCLG-supported levies. Since 2004 this has been provided to the EA as direct Grant in Aid from Defra.
	Secondly, funding from a shared capital allocation divided between the EA, local authorities and internal drainage boards. In previous years, capital funds have been allocated using the Defra priority score system. Owing to the high level of forward commitment in 2007-08 there was only a small amount of money available to fund new works schemes. For that reason, it was decided that only certain development studies and coastal monitoring projects by local authorities and internal drainage boards helping to maintain the forward programme would receive new funding except for the works scheme at Weston-Super-Mare. Letters to the authorities setting out the detail of the 2007-08 allocation process are published on the Defra website.

Flood Control: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the decision making process is for the allocation of funding to flood defence scheme projects in North Yorkshire following structural changes in the process.

Ian Pearson: Most flood risk management work in North Yorkshire is carried out by the Environment Agency (EA). Flood risk Grant in Aid from Defra is provided to the EA as a block. The EA then allocate funding from the block to activities such as flood warning, capital improvement projects, maintenance of existing assets and preventing inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding etcetera.
	The EA allocates capital improvement funding to projects in its regions using a priority scoring system. This system gives priority to projects currently under way or to those projects which are both urgent and exempt from the priority scoring requirement because of, for example, legal obligations. Remaining funding is allocated to those projects which are likely to provide most benefit (economic, protection of people and environmental) per unit cost nationally. Capital improvement funding for North Yorkshire, therefore, will depend on the number and cost of projects in that region which receive funding through this process.

Institute for Public Policy Research

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding the Energy Saving Trust provided to  (a) the IPPR and  (b) IPPR Trading Ltd. in each year since its creation; and for what purpose funding was provided.

Ian Pearson: The Energy Saving Trust (EST) is a private company. Decisions about what funding it might provide to third parties are a matter for the EST Board. However, I understand that none of the grant funding provided to the EST by Defra in support of its energy efficiency activities has been provided to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) or IPPR Trading Limited.

Waste Disposal

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of the weight of  (a) glass,  (b) paper,  (c) aluminium,  (d) steel,  (e) plastics and  (f) wood thrown away by (i) households and (ii) businesses in England in a year; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will estimate the difference in the amount of  (a) energy and  (b) water consumed for every tonne of (i) glass, (ii) paper, (iii) aluminium, (iv) steel, (v) plastics and (vi) wood that is produced from recycled rather than new material; and what proportion the energy used to produce each from recycled materials represents as a proportion of the energy used for producing them from new material;
	(3)  what his most recent estimate is of the amount in tonnes of waste diverted from landfill through the recycling of  (a) glass,  (b) paper,  (c) aluminium,  (d) steel,  (e) plastics and  (f) wood in a year.

Ben Bradshaw: Analysis of the composition of the household waste stream was undertaken by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in 2002. These estimates have been applied to the total household waste arisings in 2005-06 for WasteDataFlow as follows:
	
		
			   Tonnes (000) 
			 Glass 1,741 
			 Paper and card 4,704 
			 Metal cans and foil 662 
			 Scrap metal and white goods 1,145 
			 Plastics 1,802 
			 Wood 1,056 
		
	
	Aluminium and steel were not separately identified in the compositional analysis.
	Estimates of total commercial and industrial waste are available from the Environment Agency's (EA) Commercial and Industrial Waste Survey 2002-03, copies of which I am placing in the House Libraries.
	The amount of waste from household sources that was sent for recycling in 2005-06 by material type is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Tonnes (000) 
			 Glass 760 
			 Paper and card 1,475 
			 Cans 74 
			 Scrap metal and white goods 532 
			 Plastics 38 
			  Source:  WasteDataFlow 
		
	
	Estimates of commercial waste materials recycled are available from the EA's Commercial and Industrial Waste Survey 2002-03, copies of which I have placed in the Libraries of the House.
	A Defra commissioned research study conducted by ERM in association with Golder Associates entitled "Carbon Balances and Energy Impacts of the Management of UK Wastes" will be published on the Defra website shortly. This peer reviewed study report details a macro-level investigation of the carbon flows, energy and greenhouse gas benefits and impacts associated with alternative management routes for the predominant waste materials arising in the UK. The research examines the scale of benefits and impacts resulting from different process and recovery routes, traces carbon flows through alternative systems and identifies the most significant wastes and management methods.

TREASURY

Agriculture: Subsidies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he was informed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that contingent liabilities for provisions for disallowance arising from Common Agricultural Policy schemes, notably the single farm payment, and the possible financial correction the European Commission may apply would be  (a) £131 million and  (b) £305 million; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The estimate of potential disallowances is reviewed continually by Defra and RPA officials. Provisions for potential disallowances, totalling £116 million (in respect on England only), were made in Defra accounts for 2005-06 (covering SPS 2005 and predating historic CAP schemes).
	On 20 February 2007, Defra's spring supplementary estimate included a claim on the Reserve of £305 million for 2006-07. The claim provides estimate cover for provisions in respect of potential financial corrections to EC reimbursements for SPS 2005, any new provisions for SPS 2006 payments to farmers and other CAP schemes. Final figures for provisions will be provided in Defra's 2006-07 accounts.

Allowances: Electric Vehicles

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider making the advisory fuel rates for the private use of petrol hybrid company cars the same as those for the company use of those cars.

John Healey: Company car drivers are entitled to tax relief for the actual cost of fuel used for business mileage, but to make life easier for all, HMRC sets advisory fuel rates which it will accept as, on average, reflecting fuel costs without giving rise to a tax or NICs liability. The same rates apply where an employee makes good the cost of any fuel he or she has used for private mileage.

Census

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 1131W, on the census, what the most recent date was when the Office for National Statistics rejected an application for an extract from the 1921 Census for England and Wales on the grounds that Exemption 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applied to the records.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 6 March 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the most recent date was when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) rejected an application for an extract from the 1921 Census for England and Wales on the grounds that Exemption 41 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 applied to the records. (124113)
	The last time ONS rejected an application for an extract from the 1921 Census for England and Wales on the grounds that Section 41 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 applied, was on 15 December 2006.

Charitable Donations

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated into the effectiveness of Gift Aid tax relief in promoting charitable giving.

Dawn Primarolo: Since 2003, HMRC has commissioned the following research projects on charitable giving:
	Individuals' Donations to Charities and their Use of Tax Relief;
	Research on Charities;
	Companies' Donations to Charities; and
	Qualitative Research with High Net Worth Individuals.
	The research on Individuals' Donations to Charities and their Use of Tax Relief is of most direct relevance. A copy of the research report is available at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/rep9-main.pdf

Children's Centres: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on children's centres funding.

Edward Balls: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1488W.

Debts: Developing Countries

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to stop vulture funds from profiting from the debts of developing nations.

Edward Balls: I share the hon. Member's concern about the actions of vulture funds. The UK wants all creditors to join the multilateral debt workouts and urges all creditors of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) to offer at least the debt relief agreed under the HIPC Initiative. The UK has been actively involved in assisting HIPCs to fight aggressive creditors though a number of channels. The UK has:
	supported the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) Debt Reduction Facility, which provides funds for countries to buy off commercial debts at significant discount, thereby reducing the potential for litigation (since its establishment, this facility has provided support to extinguish around $8 billion of debt in low-income countries, including $3.8 billion of external commercial debt principal owned by HIPCs);
	provided bilateral technical support and including financial support for legal services to the Zambian authorities through the Zambia Task Force of Corruption, to help them fight their recent court case;
	provided around £4.5 million (and pledged further funds) to fund capacity building for debt management in developing countries, which will help to avoid these problems in the future;
	encouraged the African Development Bank to develop a Legal Assistance Facility, which would—among other things—offer advice to HIPC countries facing litigation;
	worked with our international partners to ensure that the IMF and World Bank raise public awareness of this problem by tracking and releasing data on lawsuits, litigations and settlements;
	agreed, with our G20 partners, a set of Principles on Fair Debt Restructuring, which ensuring greater co-ordination between sovereign and commercial creditors and focus on transparency, sharing of information, good faith actions and fair treatment.

Debts: Developing Countries

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of vulture funds on the effectiveness of international aid to assist debt relief.

Edward Balls: By depleting the resources of developing countries' governments, these companies reduce the funds available for poverty-reducing expenditures on services such as health and education. The British Government have led the way in helping to cancel the debts of heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs). We have exceeded our commitments under HIPC, cancelling 100 per cent. of debts owed to the UK. However, the success of international debt relief initiatives depends on the participation of all creditors providing the debt relief these countries need.
	The IMF publication "Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI)—Status of Implementation" published in August 2006 and available at
	http://www.imf.org/external/pp/longres.aspx?id=3887
	provides the most up to date analysis of the scale of litigation.

Defence: Finance

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the defence budget in 2006-07 is as a proportion of the gross domestic product  (a) inclusive and  (b) exclusive of the cost of current conflicts.

Stephen Timms: Forecast of outturn figures for the Defence budget were published at spring supplementary estimates. Annual GDP deflators can be found on the Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/gdp_deflators/data_gdp_fig.cfm.
	The latest forecast figures for the Defence budget 2006/07 will be published at Budget. Final figures will be available in the MOD's annual report and accounts that will be published following the end of the financial year, and will set out the level of the Defence budget as well as the additional cost of military operations.

Departments: Air Pollution

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate has been made of the carbon footprint of his Department.

John Healey: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 7 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1027W.

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has  (a) a gender strategy and  (b) a gender equality action plan in place.

John Healey: Building on its existing strategy to promote diversity, HM Treasury will have a Gender Equality Action Plan in place by 30 April 2007.

Departments: Publications

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's involvement was in the Department for International Development's publication 'The World Classroom'.

Edward Balls: 'The World Classroom' sets out the Government's support for schools' partnerships projects, and places this in the context of the Government's wider policies to encourage access to education in developing countries. These are policies which the Chancellor strongly supports and which he has helped to promote nationally and internationally.
	The publication was prepared by officials from the Department for International Development, working closely with HM Treasury officials.

Excise Duties: Biofuels

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the duty on bio-diesel for leisure boat use; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The derogation under the Energy Products Directive that permitted a reduced rate of duty on fuel used in private pleasure craft expired at 31 December 2006. Primary legislation will be required to end this concession, and until the law changes private pleasure craft users will continue to be eligible for partial repayment relief on 100 per cent. bio-diesel.

HMRC: Boat Interceptions

Robert Key: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will direct HM Revenue and Customs to record interceptions of yachts and pleasure craft entering UK waters for collation by his Department.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs do not systematically intercept yachts and pleasure craft entering UK waters, and therefore there is no record to be kept.

Money Laundering

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he interpreted the requirements set out in Article 16(1)(a) and (b) of the Third Money Laundering Directive to apply to  (a) institutions and persons listed in Article 2 and  (b) institutions and persons situated in third countries for the purposes of drafting the Money Laundering Regulations 2007;
	(2)  for what reasons the exemption from the requirement to report information received in professionally privileged circumstances in Regulation 7 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 is not included in the Draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007;
	(3)  if he will amend the draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007 to include rules to be followed  (a) for calculating the 25 per cent. share of the beneficial interest in property held under a trust, as provided for in Article 3(6)(b)(i), and  (b) in determining whether a person exercises control over 25 per cent. of trust property within the meaning of Article 3(6)(b)(iii) of the Third Money Laundering Directive;
	(4)  if he will amend Regulation 12 of the Draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007 to make explicit that regulated parties may rely on regulated persons situated in other member states for customer due diligence checks including where documents or data are different in form to those required in the UK.

Edward Balls: The Government are currently consulting on draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007. The consultation closes on 2 April. The Government will make final decisions, including in relation to the definition of beneficial owner and the provisions contained in regulation 12, once they have considered all consultation responses.
	The Government consider that the requirements set out in article 16(1)(a) and (b) of the Third Money Laundering Directive apply to institutions and persons listed in article 2 and equivalent institutions and persons situated in third countries.
	The exemption for legal professional privilege in regulation 7 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 is based on the exemption in part 7 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The draft Money Laundering Regulations 2007, unlike the 2003 regulations, provide for internal reporting procedures in respect of the requirements of part 7 of the Act, and therefore it is unnecessary to set out this exemption or other provisions set out in part 7.

Research and Development Tax Credit: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many projects in the London borough of Bexley received research and development tax credits in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested is not available.
	For information generally on the take-up of research and development tax credits, I refer the hon. Member to the National Statistics published in December 2006 on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/randdtcmenu.htm.

Revenue and Customs: Publicity

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how HM Revenue and Customs assesses the value for money of its expenditure on marketing and advertising to promote self-assessment online; and how it determines what proportion of the increase in the uptake of the service is due to its marketing and advertising campaign as opposed to the increased use of internet across society.

Dawn Primarolo: The value for money of HMRC's advertising expenditure is monitored via an independent specialist agency. Their most recent report concluded that HMRC are receiving excellent value compared to the industry average.
	The Self Assessment campaign won Institute of Practitioners in Advertising Effectiveness awards in 2005 and 2006.
	HMRC conducts analyses of trends to determine the proportion of behavioural change that can be attributed to its marketing efforts, taking account of organic take-up.

Tax Credit: Children

Jim Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress towards issuing annual statements to those in receipt of child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: At the end of the year tax credits claimants will be sent a notice containing a summary of their award history for the year as part of their renewal pack. For the end of 2006-07 this will also include playback.
	Final award notices provide confirmation of the income and circumstances used to calculate the award, the amount of final entitlement to tax credits and the amount of tax credits paid for that award.

Tax Credit: North East Region

John Cummings: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many projects in  (a) County Durham and  (b) Easington constituency received research and development tax credits in each of the last four years.

John Healey: The information requested is not available.
	For information generally on the take-up of research and development tax credits, I refer my hon. Friend to the National Statistics published in December 2006 on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate tax/randdtcmenu.htm

Taxation: International Assistance

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the  (a) amount of taxation on levels of remittance aid,  (b) amount of tax paid on remittances from the UK to developing countries and  (c) cost of providing tax relief on remittance aid; what measures he has taken to maximise levels of remittance aid; what steps he plans to take to increase the level of remittance aid; and what policy recommendations he has received from the UK Remittances Working Group.

Edward Balls: Remittances are an increasingly importance source of development finance and can have a significant positive economic impact in developing countries, particularly low-income countries. That is why the Government welcomed the report of the UK Remittances Working Group, available at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/report-remittance.asp.
	The Government are engaged in several activities to support remittance flows, including:
	developing partnerships with countries such as Bangladesh, Ghana and Nigeria;
	establishing an information portal (www.sendmoneyhome. org) on costs, transparency, access and choice of remittance transfers; and
	engaging regularly with the private-sector led UK Remittances Task Force which is working to promote increased competition and transparency for consumers and provide better information on the UK remittances market for Government and industry.
	There are currently no specific tax measures focused on remittances.

VAT: Manpower

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed by his Department to check the accuracy of VAT returns, broken down by grade.

Dawn Primarolo: Checking the accuracy of VAT returns is not a single activity to which HMRC allocates a specific resource. It is an intrinsic element of enforcement and compliance activity within the VAT regime on which 8,924 staff years were used in the financial year 2005-06.

Welfare Tax Credits

Mike Wood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent to which the tax credits system has met its objectives; and what assessment he has made of the effect of problems experienced by claimants on the meeting of objectives.

Dawn Primarolo: Take-up of child tax credit (CTC) and working tax credit (WTC) has been a success with the vast majority of claimants receiving the right amount of payments at the right time.
	Tax credits have helped to lift 700,000 children out of relative poverty since 1996-97—compared to a doubling of child poverty in the previous 20 years.
	Tax credits have also helped increase the number of people in work by over 2.5 million since spring 1997, and since 1997 long-term unemployment has reduced by 450,000.
	Furthermore, tax credits have also been central to reducing the tax burden on low to middle income families. The latest OECD study shows the tax burden on a single-earner couple with two children earning £21,000 has fallen from 17.3 per cent. of gross earnings in 1997 to 9.8 per cent. in 2004.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many overpayments have been  (a) caused and  (b) written off due to the original problems being caused by technical problems on the Tax Credit Office computer system.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested. I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 1 November 2006,  Official Report, column 543W.

Working Tax Credit

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances a person living in the UK working as an au pair from  (a) an EU and  (b) a non-EU state may qualify for Working Tax Credit (WTC); for how long such a person must be resident in the UK before qualifying; and how many such people are estimated to be receiving WTC.

Dawn Primarolo: Entitlement to Working Tax Credit (WTC) depends on a person being in "qualifying remunerative work". Claimants with responsibility for a child or qualifying young person, or who are disabled, must work for at least 16 hours a week to qualify for WTC. Workers without children or a disability must be aged at least 25 and work for 30 or more hours a week in order to qualify.
	A person is ordinarily resident if they normally live in the United Kingdom (apart from occasional temporary absences) and they have chosen to live and settle here in the UK for the time being.
	People who have limited leave to enter or remain in the UK are generally excluded from access to public funds, including WTC.
	More detailed guidance is available on the HMRC website (www.hmrc.gov.uk).
	The other information requested is not available.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding has been committed to Afghanistan for reconstruction and development in each year since the invasion; what proportion of this funding has been committed  (a) bilaterally and  (b) multilaterally; and through which organisations.

Hilary Benn: DFID spent over £390 million on reconstruction and development in Afghanistan between April 2001 and March 2006. We have committed to spend a further £330 million between April 2006 and March 2009, including a planned £102 million in 2006-07.
	Our bilateral programme spend in Afghanistan over the last five financial years has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2001-02 50 
			 2002-03 75 
			 2003-04 80 
			 2004-05 80 
			 2005-06 98 
		
	
	Amounts channelled through UN agencies were £1.3 million in 2001, £2.1 million in 2002, £1.4 million in 2003, and £4.0 million in 2004. We are also contributing 18 per cent. of the EC's pledge of £1 billion between 2002 and 2007 (around £125 million in total, or around £25 million per year). We also contribute over 10 per cent. of the World Bank's spending of $250-$300 million a year in Afghanistan, and we also channel funds through the Asian Development Bank. The international and local non-governmental organisations through which we have channelled funds are listed at Annexes A and B respectively.
	 Annexe A: International Organisations
	Action Contre La Faim
	Afghan Aid
	Afghan Development Association
	Aga Khan
	Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development
	Aide Medicale International
	Assisting Marsh Arabs and Refugees
	BBC World Service Trust
	BRAC
	British Agencies Advisory Group
	British Red Cross
	British Refugee Council
	CAFOD
	Care
	Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
	Christina Aid
	Concern
	Development initiatives
	Greenshields Cowie
	Halo Trust
	International Rescue Committee
	Islamic Relief
	Mercy Corps
	Merlin
	Ockenden International
	Oxfam
	Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres
	Refugee Studies Centre
	Save the Children Fund
	Solidarities
	TearFund
	The Asia Foundation
	War Child UK
	Womankind
	 Annexe B: Local Organisations
	Afghan Fertiliser Company
	Afghanistan Independence Human Rights Commission
	Afghanistan Information Management Service
	Afghanistan National Construction Coordination
	Civil Service Commission
	Cooperation Centre for Afghanistan
	Helping Afghan Farmers Organisation
	Irtiqa Development and Construction Organisation
	Luqman Rehabilitation Organisation
	Moqadas Reconstruction Organisation
	Reconstruction Committee for Development of Afghanistan
	Roshan Construction Company
	Southern Afghanistan Development Association
	Southern Rehabilitation and Aid Committee
	Tribal Liaison Office

Departments: Publications

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department's publication The World Classroom was co-financed by the Treasury.

Gareth Thomas: The DFID/Treasury World Classroom publication was wholly funded by the Department for International Development, in relation to design, print and distribution.

Nicaragua: Bomb Disposal

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the danger posed by landmines in Nicaragua; and what aid the UK  (a) has allocated and  (b) plans to allocate for mine removal and local training to remove mines.

Gareth Thomas: In recent years, Nicaragua has made significant progress in de-mining landmines left over from its years of conflict, under the auspices of the Nicaraguan Army Engineer Corps. The most recent Landmine Monitor report of 2006 indicated that many areas, such as the Southern Atlantic Coast Region, have now been cleared entirely, but progress is still needed in other regions, such as the North Atlantic Coast. In addition, the social and economic impact of uncleared mines is still felt, with casualties continuing to occur every year. Nicaragua's "Demining National Plan" lays out Nicaragua's interventions with regard to demining, with the support of the international community through the Organisation of American States (OAS). The de-mining programmes are often accompanied by mine education and awareness programmes and support to victims.
	Globally, DFID is committed to reduce the social and economic impact of landmines on developing countries through helping them to implement their obligations under the Ottawa Convention. In 1999-2001, DFID provided support (£283,000) to the Government of Nicaragua, through the "Humanitarian Mine Action" programme coordinated by the OAS, to remove and destroy landmines and unexploited artefacts planted throughout the country during the years of conflict.
	In addition, between 2000 and 2001, the UK Government, through the embassy in Nicaragua, contributed £850,000 to the implementation of Nicaragua's Demining National Plan through the OAS. These resources went towards the removal and destruction of land mines in the area of the Northern Atlantic Coast.
	The European Commission has also undertaken a €1.3 million project (2003-04), entitled "Implementation of Humanitarian Operations for Demining in Nueva Segovia". This project was executed by the Nicaraguan Army, under the supervision of the OAS and Inter American Development Bank.
	DFID no longer provides direct support to the de-mining effort in Nicaragua, as many donor partners continue to be closely engaged, including EU partners, Canada and the United States of America.

St. Helena

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many television channels showed his Department's video St. Helena, as referred to in his answer of 24 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1003W.

Gareth Thomas: The video I referred to in my answer of 24 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1003W, was made especially for local television in St. Helena, to inform the local population about proposals for the new airport. It was shown three times on the local television station in St. Helena, and repeated on the local television channel on Ascension Island, where many Saints, as the local people are known, live and work. A copy was also sent to the St. Helena representative in the Falkland Islands and shown to Saints there. Part of the film has also been shown to the All Party Parliamentary Group for St. Helena. I understand that it has been well received.

Thailand: HIV Infection

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the potential impact on access to HIV treatment of the Government of Thailand's issuance of compulsory licences to produce locally or import generic versions of the drugs efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Thai Government only recently announced their intention to issue compulsory licences for a number of patented medicines; therefore the impact of this action on access to HIV treatment is not yet clear.
	We support the right of developing countries to implement the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) as is appropriate for their circumstances and in order to ensure access to HIV treatment. We also support the right of developing countries to utilise the flexibilities allowed under TRIPS to ensure affordable access to medicines to meet public health needs, this includes the use of compulsory licensing provisions included in the TRIPS agreement.

Zimbabwe: Overseas Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent aid has been sent by the UK to Zimbabwe; and what precautions were taken to ensure that this aid was delivered directly to those who needed aid.

Hilary Benn: We remain confident that the systems are in place to ensure that assistance provided by the UK reaches those members of society who are most in need of assistance.
	Over the last five years, DFID has allocated approximately £143 million to support the poorest people of Zimbabwe, with almost all this funding being directed to tackling HIV and AIDS, food insecurity and in support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children. DFID channels its support through United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations, rather than providing direct support to the Government of Zimbabwe.
	All proposals for DFID funding are subject to rigorous scrutiny, particularly with regard to the target group affected by the intervention in question, transparency of funding mechanisms and the presence of robust monitoring and evaluation systems. DFID Zimbabwe requires regular reporting from partner organisations and carries out its own monitoring and evaluation exercises on a regular, generally quarterly or six-monthly, basis. In cases where partner organisations are funded in instalments, funding is contingent upon evidence that previous contributions from DFID have been disbursed in the manner agreed in our formal agreement with that organisation.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Poultry Meat

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what percentage of the poultry supplied to the House was born and raised on British farms in each of the last three years.

Nick Harvey: The Refreshment Department does not keep statistics of the country of origin of the food it purchases. However, from information provided by its suppliers, it is estimated that in each of the last two years (January to December 2005 and 2006) over 97 per cent. of the fresh poultry supplied to the Department was of British origin and 100 per cent. was of EU origin. No information is available for earlier years.
	Under the terms of the EU procurement directives, the House of Commons is unable to discriminate in favour of or against the goods, services or produce of any member state.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

House of Lords: Reform

Alan Williams: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2007 to Question 124296, on House of Lords reform, on what basis he plans to divide the UK into electoral units for the election of Members of the House of Lords under his proposals for reform.

Jack Straw: Paragraph 7.95 of the White Paper "The House of Lords: Reform" explains that in terms of constituency, the Government propose the simplest approach is to use the regions used for elections to the European Parliament.

Member's Constituency Work

Iain Wright: To ask the Leader of the House what  (a) advice,  (b) practical support and  (c) software and hardware is provided to hon. Members for the electronic collection and management of constituents' casework.

Jack Straw: I understand that the Parliamentary ICT Service (PICT) does not recommend or support any specific casework products for use by Members or their staff.
	The standard range of Microsoft software and hardware supplied to Members can be used to assist with the management of constituents' casework, but only general application and hardware support is given in this respect.
	This position is reviewed from time-to-time. For example, the scope to provide caseworker software centrally was not pursued several years ago by the Advisory Panel on Members' Allowances after an external consultancy review concluded that it was not possible to develop a single product that could accommodate the different ways in which Members work. PICT is currently investigating an alternative approach based on working more closely with the most popular casework suppliers. This would ensure that Members retain the flexibility to use the products they wish to, while receiving more integrated support.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Algeria: Deportation

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1125W, on Algeria: deportation, what the most recent information is which she has received on the four individuals; what further steps embassy officials have taken; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Embassy officials in Algiers have remained in close contact with the Algerian Government concerning the situation of the four individuals deported from the UK between 20 and 27 January 2007. Algerian Government officials have confirmed that "K" was detained on 24 January and released on 4 February; that "P" was detained on 27 January and released on 30 January; that Reda Dendani ("Q") was detained on 25 January and subsequently brought before a court and charged with membership of an armed terrorist group under Article 87 of the Algerian Criminal Code as well as assumption of the name of a third party under Article 249 of that same Code; and that "H" was detained on 31 January and subsequently brought before a court and charged with membership of an armed terrorist group under Article 87 of the Code. Each individual was either charged or released before the expiration of the 12 day detention period authorised under the Algerian Criminal Procedure Code. Embassy officials continue to stay in touch with Algerian Government officials.

Conference on Disarmament

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government have taken within the Conference on Disarmament to achieve consensus on commencing negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I visited the Conference on Disarmament on 22 February 2007 to discuss this issue and, in a speech to the conference, encouraged delegations to move forward on these negotiations. The UK fully supports the immediate commencement of negotiations and the conclusion of a treaty on fissile material cut-off. In advance of a treaty coming into force, the UK, in 1995, announced that it had ceased production of fissile material for weapons purposes. This moratorium remains in place.

Departments: Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what strategy she has put in place for  (a) the use of renewable energy and  (b) meeting energy targets in her Department's buildings; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office sets and manages all of the Government's sustainable operations energy targets in our environmental management programme (BMP). The use of renewable energy is embedded in our energy procurement arrangements. As a result, we purchase 100 per cent. of the electricity we use at our main building in King Charles street, equating to 39 per cent. of all the electricity we use in the UK, from renewable sources. In addition, as part of implementing our carbon management programme (CMP), developed with the Carbon Trust, we will shortly be examining the practicality of generating from renewable sources some of the electricity used at our site at Hanslope park, which accounts for 39 per cent. of our UK energy consumption.
	Our strategy for meeting our other energy targets is, similarly, to manage them in our BMP, undertake energy saving projects, apply the building research establishment environmental assessment method to our new builds and refurbishments and implement key energy efficiency recommendations contained in our CMP.

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in (i) her Department and (ii) each agency of the Department in each year since 1997-98; how much is planned to be spent for 2007-08; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has spent the following sums on compensation for early retirement each year since 1997.
	
		
			   £ 
			 1997-98 2,825,000 
			 1998-99 3,315,000 
			 1999-2000 3,802,000 
			 2000-01 1,871,000 
			 2001-02 1,805,000 
			 2002-03 3,194,000 
			 2003-04 3,878,000 
			 2004-05 4,955,000 
			 2005-06 14,801,000 
			 2006-07(1) 8,895,000 
			 2007-08(1) 11,641,000 
			 (1) The figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are provisional estimates. 
		
	
	We have not been able to identify what sums, if any, within this total were spent on involuntary departures. To check individual records for this purpose would incur disproportionate cost. It is our policy to do all we can to avoid or minimise compulsory redundancies.
	All payments have been made in accordance with the provisions of the civil service compensation schemes. As a result of the 2004 spending round we have carried out a restructuring exercise since 2004 to realise efficiency savings. This early retirement programme will enable us to reduce the size of the senior management structure in the FCO by 18 per cent. by 31 March 2008.

Iraq: Constitution

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women are represented on the Constitutional Review committee for the Iraqi constitution; and whether this fills the applicable quota.

Kim Howells: There are two women on the Constitutional Review committee, Najiiha al-Habib and Aliah Nasif al-Ubeidi. Article 142 of the Constitution, which sets out the provisions for the review, does not stipulate a gender quota for the committee.

Iraq: Constitution

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the constitutional review process for the Iraqi constitution; and what progress has been made.

Kim Howells: In line with Article 142 of the Iraqi Constitution, a Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) was formed on 15 November 2006 to review the Constitution. The CRC is due to present its proposed amendments for the Council of Representative's consideration by mid May 2007.
	In December 2006 the CRC established three subcommittees: one to propose technical and drafting improvements; another to look at those areas that are not addressed in the existing Constitution; and a third subcommittee which will consider contentious issues possibly requiring cross-party political agreement. We understand the subcommittees will submit their proposals for the CRC's consideration by the end of March 2007.
	Article 142 does not stipulate a time frame for the whole review process. But Iraq's political party leaders have committed to completing the constitutional review process, including the referendum, within a year of the CRC starting work.

Iraq: Religious Freedom

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with Iraqi officials on the rights of Christians to worship freely in Iraq; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We support provisions in the Iraqi constitution that guarantee freedom of religious belief and practice to all Iraqi people. We continually press members of the Iraqi government and Council of Representatives on their obligation to serve all of Iraq's communities, regardless of faith or political persuasion, and to develop legislation and policies that protect these important provisions.

Iraq: Weapons

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of claims made by General Georges Sada in respect of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Kim Howells: It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on intelligence matters.
	Lord Butler had uninhibited access to all UK intelligence material and other relevant Government papers relating to Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Having fully accepted Lord Butler's recommendations, which have now been implemented, the Government do not propose re-opening the debate on issues which were fully covered in his report.
	The hon. Member may find it useful to refer to the Iraq Survey Group's March 2005 Addendums to the Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to the (US) Director of Central Intelligence on Iraq's WMD, which covers the issue of movement of any WMD out of Iraq in the period leading up to the 2003 conflict.
	The report can be found on the United States' Central Intelligence Agency website at:
	https://www.cia.gov/cia/reports/iraq_wmd_2004/addenda.pdf.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which states have made representations to the UK Government on compliance with obligations under the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proloferation Treaty; what concerns were expressed; and what response was provided.

Kim Howells: No formal representations with respect to non-compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) have been made directly to the UK by another state party to the treaty.
	Issues of non-compliance with nuclear safeguards agreements are dealt with by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. During the 37 years since the NPT came into force there have been many discussions by the IAEA Board of Governors on potential cases of non-compliance with safeguards. Recent discussions have centred on Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The IAEA Board of Governors found Iran in non-compliance with its NPT-required safeguards agreement on 24 September 2005. The board expressed concerns about Iran's many failures and breaches of its obligations to comply with its safeguards agreement, and its history of concealment of nuclear activities. The board urged Iran to implement transparency measures, to suspend enrichment-related activity, to reconsider construction of a heavy water research reactor, and to ratify and implement the additional protocol. Iran has yet to comply fully with these measures, and was referred to the UN Security Council for further consideration in March 2006. UN Security Council Resolutions 1696 and 1737 set out the international community's requirements for Iran build confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.
	The UK has never been accused of non-compliance with its safeguards agreements with the agency or with its NPT obligations.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will seek legal opinion on whether the proposals to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system is compatible with article 1 of the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Kim Howells: As noted in the ministerial code, the fact and substance of legal advice to the Government remains confidential. This enables Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.

Timor-Leste

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 21W, on Timor-Leste, when she expects the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation report to be discussed by the Timor-Leste Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: It is for the government of Timor-Leste to decide how to handle the report within their Parliament. Nevertheless, in welcoming the report and recommendations of the then UN Secretary-General on justice and reconciliation in Timor-Leste, we have made clear our view that the demand for justice and accountability for the serious crimes committed in 1999 remains a fundamental issue in the lives of many Timorese.

WALES

Hazardous Substances

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what investigations are taking place into Monsanto and its alleged illegal dumping of toxic waste; and which organisations are undertaking those investigations.

Peter Hain: The Environment Agency Wales and the local authority, Rhondda Cynon Taff county borough council, have been working in partnership with the local health board, the national health service in Wales and the Food Standards Agency to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the issue at Brofiscin quarry. Monsanto, Solutia Inc.—the parent company of Solutia UK—are co-operating with the Environment Agency in their investigations under part IIa of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	While the Environment Agency in Wales' investigations have confirmed pollution of deep groundwater and intermittent pollution of surface waters, they have found no detectable risk to drinking supplies. It will be publishing its latest report on this matter shortly in the spring, which will bring together all monitoring results taken to date and provide an interpretation of what is happening on site.
	Assessment of what appropriate remedial action is necessary is currently ongoing. Investigations into identifying the "appropriate persons" responsible for the cost of these remedial works are also still ongoing.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Absent Voting: Fraud

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the number of people prevented from voting in a polling station due to postal vote fraud in the 2006 local elections.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has made no such estimate because there is currently no central record of allegations of postal voting malpractice, or of investigations and prosecutions.
	The Commission is arranging with Returning Officers, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to collate information on electoral malpractice centrally to enable statistics to be compiled.

Absent Voting: Personation

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission collects information from local authority returning officers on  (a) irregularities with postal votes and  (b) personation.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has not hitherto collected such information from local authority returning officers. However, starting this summer, the Commission intends to gather information from returning officers and the police on electoral malpractice at least twice a year. It will report on any trends or patterns the data disclose.

Departments: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what databases are controlled by the Electoral Commission; and what percentage of the data in each database is estimated to be inaccurate or out of date.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission is statutorily required to maintain records of the registered details and statutory income (including loans) and expenditure returns of political parties, third parties, permitted participants and regulated persons. The Commission informs me that it carries out thorough checks on income and expenditure returns to identify and correct inaccuracies.
	In addition the Commission controls a number of administrative databases with contact details of its stakeholders. The Commission believes that the data in these databases are generally accurate and up to date.

Elections: Fraud

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the Electoral Commission's definition is of election fraud.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it defines electoral fraud as any of the offences specified by the Representation of the People Acts. These include offences related to voting or registration, such as personation, bribery, multiple voting, violating the secrecy of the ballot, undue influence and false statements on registration. They also include several other types of offence including those relating to imprints on publications, campaign behaviour and spending limits for candidates' expenses.

Elections: Local Government

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2007,  Official Report, column 792W, on political party expenditure, whether the Electoral Commission has made any estimate of the amount spent by candidates in  (a) the local government elections of May 2006 and  (b) previous local elections.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not make estimates of the amount spent by candidates in local government elections. Candidates and their election agents must submit returns of their election expenses to the returning officer, who then makes them available for public inspection. The Commission discharges its statutory duty to monitor compliance with the controls on spending by local government candidates in England and Wales by reviewing samples of returns.

Party Political Broadcasts

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2007,  Official Report, column 792W, on political party expenditure, what  (a) research the Electoral Commission has (i) undertaken and (ii) commissioned on and  (b) estimates the Commission has made of the value of free party political and election broadcasts.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission's 2004 report "The Funding of Political Parties" noted that the availability of free airtime to political parties at the time of elections and at other key events in the political calendar is, in effect, an indirect subsidy of their activities. The Commission informs me that it has not conducted research into, or made any estimate of, the value of such free airtime to political parties.

Political Parties: Finance

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of expenditure by political parties through the vehicles of local constituency associations who are not required to provide annual statements of accounts as accounting units.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it periodically requests details of the expenditure incurred by political parties' accounting units. The purpose of these requests is to ensure that the Commission receives annual statements of accounts from all accounting units with annual income or expenditure above £25,000. When this exercise was carried out in 2004, 1,283 accounting units that were not required to submit annual statements of accounts, from 14 parties, reported total expenditure of just under £4.2 million in their financial years ending in 2003. A similar exercise is being carried out by the Commission in respect of financial years ending in 2006.

Political Parties: Finance

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how much the Electoral Commission has spent on focus groups on public attitudes to political finance reform; and which polling organisations were commissioned.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that in November 2003 it commissioned Cragg Ross Dawson, at a cost of £30,000, to conduct focus groups to explore awareness of, and attitudes towards, party funding arrangements and potential changes to the current system. This work was in support of the Commission's 2004 report "The Funding of Political Parties". In July 2006, it commissioned Ipsos Mori to run, at a cost of £158,000, a programme of in-depth workshops into public attitudes into party funding. This work was to inform current policy discussion in this area, and in particular Sir Hayden Phillips' review of the funding of political parties.

UKIP: Finance

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the Electoral Commission will conduct an investigation into reports of missing donations in the accounts of the UK Independence Party; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission announced on 22 February that it is launching a full review of the United Kingdom Independence Party's systems for dealing with its financial affairs and meeting statutory reporting requirements.

TRANSPORT

Railways

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce overcrowding on the railways.

Tom Harris: We recognise that, because of continuing growth, the passenger carrying capacity of the network, especially in peak periods, remains an issue in many areas.
	We will continue to take steps to increase the capacity of the railways through the franchising process and through the High Level Output Specification and the longer term strategy framework, both of which will be published this summer.

Railways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the targets for railway punctuality and reliability  (a) between Holyhead and Euston and  (b) across the UK have been met.

Tom Harris: The targets for railway punctuality and reliability have been met and exceeded both for the Virgin West Coast franchise, that serves the Holyhead to Euston route, and across the rail network in Great Britain as a whole.

Railways

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to encourage improvements in railway timetabling to improve access to connecting services.

Tom Harris: The Department encourages improvements in railway timetabling and connections by specifying appropriate base timetable requirements in new franchises. Train operators and Network Rail are responsible for working together to plan timetables which provide good connections.

Airports

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions Ministers have had since Christmas 2006 with the British Airports Authority on passenger congestion at London's airports.

Gillian Merron: The Secretary of State regularly meets the chief executive of BAA and since Christmas 2006 has discussed with him a range of issues relevant to BAA airports. These include the development of Heathrow and Stansted airports and security at BAA airports.

Airports

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent measures he has taken to improve airport security.

Gillian Merron: Following the August security alert a number of new aviation security measures were implemented at UK airports. Some of these measures are apparent to passengers, notably the controls on liquids and the limit on the number and maximum size of cabin bags. Other new measures are not visible to passengers, and the hon. Member will understand that on security grounds it would not be appropriate for those to be disclosed.

Road Safety

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards meeting the 2010 road safety targets.

Stephen Ladyman: In 2005 there were 32,155 people killed or seriously injured in accidents reported to the police in Great Britain, 33 per cent. below the 1994-98 baseline average. We are on course to achieve the 2010 target of a 40 per cent. reduction. There were 3,472 children reported to be killed or seriously injured in 2005, 49 per cent. below the baseline average, against a 2010 target of 50 per cent. The target to reduce the slight casualty rate by 10 per cent. was met in 2002.

A45: Wellingborough

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward plans to improve the section of the A45 that passes through Wellingborough constituency.

Stephen Ladyman: We have accepted the advice of the East Midlands Regional Assembly that any major improvements along the A45, such as grade-separating the junctions at A45/A509 Wilby Way and A45/A6 Chowns Mill, are not transport investment priorities for the east midlands in the period to 2015-16.
	However, I have given approval to an upgraded layout for the A45 Wilby Way roundabout which is to be built later this year at a cost of £1.3 million from the Community Infrastructure Funding budget. In addition, as a condition of planning consent, mitigation measures are to be carried out by the developer at junctions along the A45 impacted by the 3,100 housing unit Wellingborough East development. Many of these junctions are within the Wellingborough constituency.

Airports: Kent

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with other government departments on the impact on the RSPB bird reserve at Dungeness of an extension of Lydd Airport in Kent.

Gillian Merron: No such discussions have taken place. The relevant planning application is subject to local planning procedures.

Aviation: Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards the development of a hydrogen fuelled aircraft; and what the Government's role is in the development of such an aircraft.

Gillian Merron: The design of future aircraft engines and their fuelling is primarily a matter for aero-engine manufacturers and the fuel industry and their research programmes.
	In practice, alternative fuels for aviation are not an imminent prospect. Hydrogen also has its own environmental drawbacks: at altitude, it is a global warming gas. Consideration also has to be given to the energy needed for hydrogen production, as well as to infrastructure and safety issues.

Biofuels

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many garages and petrol stations provide  (a) bio-fuels,  (b) liquefied petroleum gas and  (c) compressed natural gas; and what steps he is taking to increase these numbers.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not held centrally by Government. However regularly updated figures are available on the Energy Saving Trust website at:
	www.est.org.uk/fleet/Vehicles/Alternativefuels/Alternativefuelsrefuelling.map/
	The Government provide funds to the Energy Saving Trust to run their Infrastructure grant programme. The grants assist the building of refuelling stations for alternative fuels (natural gas/biogas, hydrogen and bio-ethanol). The Department for Transport also funds EST's Low Carbon Research and Development Programme to accelerate low carbon vehicle technologies to the market place.
	The Government encourage the use of alternative fuels through reduced rates of Vehicle Excise Duty for cars run on certain alternative fuels (for example LPG) and registered after 1 March 2001. Bio-diesel and bio-ethanol also both benefit from a 20p per litre fuel duty incentive. The Government are also introducing a Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation in April 2008 which will ensure a significant and stable market for biofuels in the UK, and is likely to mean that biofuels are available in low blends at the majority of forecourts in the UK.

Bus Services

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation he has undertaken of the Kickstart transport scheme; and what plans he has to extend the scheme.

Gillian Merron: Last year the Department, jointly with the Scottish Executive, commissioned consultants to carry out an evaluation of the Kickstart scheme and the similar Bus Route Development Grant scheme in Scotland. The results of this study will be published shortly on the Department's website.
	Decisions on funding for any future Kickstart competitions will be made in the light of the Government's 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, and the review of bus subsidies announced in our bus policy document, 'Putting Passengers First'.

Bus Services: Concessions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pensioners in Chorley constituency  (a) are eligible for and  (b) have used the free local bus travel scheme.

Gillian Merron: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The number of residents of Chorley aged 60 and over, who, from 1 April 2006, are entitled to free off-peak local bus travel is 21,400.
	 (b) Information on take-up of the concession in Chorley is not held centrally. Local authorities hold details of their residents who applied for concessionary travel.

Civil Aviation Act 2006

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the provisions of section 4 of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 to be brought into force; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The Civil Aviation Act 2006 (Commencement No.1) Order 2007, made on 1 March, brings section 4 of the Act into force. This section gives operators of non-designated airports powers to establish a noise control scheme and to charge penalties to operators of aircraft that breach the terms of that scheme.

Departments: Domestic Visits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on official visits within the UK in each year since 2003.

Gillian Merron: Expenditure on UK travel and subsistence for the Department for Transport (Central), and five of its agencies is shown in the table. The figures are derived from staff expenses claims, and from paid invoices from suppliers. HA and DSA do not account separately for UK and overseas travel and subsistence, and could provide the information only at disproportionate cost. GCDA joined the Department during financial year 2005-06, and so its figures are only included for that period.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 15,782,630 
			 2004-05 16,199,580 
			 2005-06 18,562,313

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made in achieving gender equality in public appointments to bodies which fall within his Department's responsibility since 1997.

Gillian Merron: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The Government remain committed to improving diversity on the boards of public bodies and the principle of equal representation of women and men in public appointments. The annual Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies' contains details of the number of women appointed to public bodies each year by Department. For 1997-2006 copies of these documents are available in the Library for the reference of Members. From 1998 copies are also available on the internet at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/public_bodies

Departments: Pendle

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expenditure is planned to be carried out in Pendle by his Department in each year up to 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Disaggregated figures at constituency or local level are not available for most of the Department for Transport's planned expenditure (including for railways and trunk roads).
	The local transport capital funding allocations made for Lancashire county council for the years up to 2010-11 are detailed in the following table. The Department does not allocate local transport plan funding to individual constituency areas. It is up to Lancashire county council to determine where it allocates the fund support provided for the county according to its local priorities.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Lancashire  Integrated transport  Highways capital maintenance 
			 2007-08 11.961 15.681 
			 2008-09 12.583 (1)— 
			 2009-10 13.389 (1)— 
			 2010-11 14.189 (1)— 
			 (1 )Yet to be allocated and announced 
		
	
	In addition the Department is paying Lancashire county council a grant under the Rural Bus Challenge (RBC) competition for a project that operates in Pendle called the 'Pendleside Wayfarer'. This received an award of £706,704, part of which has been paid.
	The remaining balance of the grant is £368,447 and the planned payments are:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2006-07 147,644 
			 2007-08 220,803 
		
	
	The Government provides further financial support for bus services in the locality, including through:
	Bus Services Operators Grant, paid by the Department to bus companies;
	Revenue Support Grant to Pendle district council (in respect of concessionary fares);
	Revenue Support Grant to Lancashire county council (in respect of socially necessary services).
	Revenue support grant is provided to a local authority to use for services according to its local priorities and the Government do not identify specific levels of funding to be spent on particular activities, such as supporting bus services.

Departments: Research

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies are being carried out for his Department by external organisations.

Gillian Merron: The Department and its agencies commission research and advice through a wide range of research contractors, including industry, academia and public research establishments. We also contribute to European and other international research programmes.
	Transport research programmes cover a very wide range of issues. A detailed answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost as a complete record of all studies is not collected centrally.
	However, information about the Department's evidence needs and how we meet them is given in the Evidence and Research Strategy (accessible at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/scienceresearch/er/ers/). Details of many research projects can be found on the DfT Research Database (http://www.rmd.dft.gov.uk/). and on the websites of the Highways Agency (http://www.ha-research.co.uk/) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-quidance-requlation/mcga-dgs-research_reports.htm).

Departments: Theft

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what items valued at above £100 were reported as stolen from his Department's buildings or premises in the last 12 months.

Gillian Merron: For the period, 1 February 2006 to the 31 January 2007, the following items belonging to the Department for Transport and its Agencies have been reported as stolen from departmental buildings:
	
		
			  Item  Value (£) (if known) 
			 Radio equipment 1,200 
			 Computer equipment 31,891 
			 Television equipment 5,700 
			 Mobile phone equipment 250 
			 Cash 350 
			 Total 39,391

Inland Waterways: Finance

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on recent reductions in the budget for British Waterways.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs leads on inland waterways, but DfT and Defra officials do meet on a regular basis to discuss issues of mutual interest—including this issue. However, it is ultimately a matter for navigation authorities to prioritise their activities in the light of competing demands for available resources.

London Underground

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many delays of more than  (a) five minutes,  (b) 10 minutes and  (c) 15 minutes there were on the London Underground (LU) in each year since 1990 during which his Department had responsibility for LU, broken down by line.

Gillian Merron: Responsibility for London Underground passed to Transport for London and the Mayor of London on 15 July 2003. Performance since then has been an operational matter for London Underground who are best placed to answer direct. London Underground does not hold figures in the breakdown requested and the information on the years prior to 1996 could be provided only at disproportionate time and cost. The figures for 1996 to 2003 are:
	
		
			  Number of train delays >15 minutes  1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03 
			 Bakerloo 255 232 300 329 300 318 356 
			 Central 512 678 541 446 495 501 284 
			 District 385 332 360 326 418 574 573 
			 Jubilee 138 142 173 234 208 289 246 
			 East London — 4 295 136 110 108 102 
			 Northern 343 336 332 235 216 247 250 
			 Piccadilly 258 246 275 246 267 333 392 
			 Victoria 131 183 142 95 97 151 148 
			 Metropolitan 374 375 302 319 404 495 564 
			 Circle and Hammersmith 181 135 134 189 291 287 287 
			 Waterloo and City 79 30 44 34 38 39 76 
			 Total 2,656 2,693 2,898 2,589 2,844 3,342 3,278

Motorcycles: Licensing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of  (a) the minimum number of riding licence test sites which will be required to meet demand for riding tests under the new riding test rules to be implemented in 2008 and  (b) the number of such sites which will be operational at that time.

Stephen Ladyman: The Driving Standards Agency has planned that 26 off-road motorcycle test facilities will be required to meet peak motorcycle test demand. A minimum of 46 such off-road motorcycle test facilities will be operational by the implementation date in October 2008.

Railways: Swindon

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the status is of the proposal to redouble the line between Kemble and Swindon currently with Network Rail; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Harris: I understand that Network Rail has consulted rail industry parties on possible changes to the Cotswold line to improve performance. However, this is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. My hon. Friend should contact Network Rail's Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question.
	John Armitt
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London NW1 2EE

Rapid Transit Systems

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of light rail schemes in reducing urban congestion.

Tom Harris: The Government recognise that light rail can help to reduce congestion by delivering quicker, more reliable journeys, thereby attracting people out of cars. The effects in any particular city depend on such factors as design of the light rail system, and traffic levels. The benefits of reduced congestion are taken into account in the assessment which is undertaken by the promoters for any light rail proposal.
	Scheme promoters also monitor the performance of their schemes. It is now a mandatory requirement that all schemes receiving Government funding are subject to an evaluation after opening. This will provide future information on the impact of light rail schemes on congestion levels.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities in England and Wales were sued in 2006 for compensation for failure to properly maintain roads and highways by  (a) organisations,  (b) companies and  (c) individuals.

Gillian Merron: The Department does not collect this information. However, the report Highway Risk and Liability Claims, produced in 2005 by the Roads and Highways Liability Claims Task Group, provides much relevant information. The report can be accessed on the UK Roads Liaison Group website at
	http://www.ukroadsliaisongroup.org/pdfs/060127%20_highway_risk_and_liability_guide.pdf

Rolling Stock: Costs

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rolling stock leasing charges were in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005 and  (c) 2006 for high speed trains in (i) Class 180 Adelante, (ii) Class 166, (iii) Class 165, (iv) Class 158, (v) Class 150, (vi) Class 153 and (vii) Class 143 vehicles.

Tom Harris: The leasing charges are a commercial agreement between the train operating company and the rolling stock leasing companies.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department issues to police authorities on the running of local casualty reduction partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has issued no specific guidance to the police on these matters. However, the current rules governing the National Safety Camera Programme and safety camera partnerships are contained in the Department's Handbook Of Rules And Guidance For The National Safety Camera Programme For England And Wales 2006-07. On 31 January the Department issued, under cover of a letter signed jointly by myself and the Under-Secretary of State for Policing, Security and Community Safety, new guidance to local authorities, the Highways Agency and the police on the deployment of safety cameras from 1 April 2007. The guidance, which supersedes the handbook from 1 April, provides greater freedom and flexibility on the deployment of cameras as part of new arrangements, encouraging the establishment of wider road safety partnerships. The guidance does not stipulate how these wider partnerships should be structured. We believe this is best determined locally among partners.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The four-year independent evaluation report of the National Safety Camera Programme, published in December 2005, found that there had been a 48 per cent. reduction in personal injury collisions and a 72 per cent. reduction in those killed and seriously injured at safety camera sites in the Bedfordshire Partnership area. In addition there was a 23 per cent. reduction in the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit at new camera sites.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he expects police authorities to take to support local casualty reduction partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport, the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers published a joint statement on 11 January 2005 about roads policing. The police make a vitally important contribution to improving road safety and are encouraged to work closely with local authorities and other partners, to identify the priorities for improving road safety in the local partnership area, including enforcement activity. The Department's guidelines on the future deployment of safety cameras after 1 April 2007, published on 31 January 2007, encourages local partners to agree a joint strategy and their respective roles within that strategy.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received regarding changes in staffing levels within the Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has not received any representations regarding changes in staffing levels within the Bedfordshire and Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership.

Speed Limits: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue speed cameras raised in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: Speed cameras do not produce revenue. Drivers who break the law pay penalties, as other lawbreakers do. The Department does not hold records in respect to offences detected solely by speed cameras. The audit certificates for the Lancashire Safety Camera Partnership for the financial years outlined in the following table show the fines from conditional offer of fixed penalties for offences detected by speed and red light cameras operating under the National Safety Camera Programme for the last five years. The Lancashire Safety Camera Partnership joined the national programme in October 2001.
	
		
			
			 2001-02 1,197,180 
			 2002-03 5,909,700 
			 2003-04 5,073,600 
			 2004-05 3,532,140 
			 2005-06 3,773,220

Tolls: Greater London

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of applying to other areas the lessons learned from the London congestion charge.

Douglas Alexander: Lessons learned from the London congestion charge have, and will continue to, form an important part of the Department's developing road pricing policy. In particular the fundamental role that improved public transport has played in the success of London's scheme.
	We are working with a number of areas outside London as they consider whether they want to bring forward local pilot schemes to address local congestion. My Department has established the Road Pricing Local Liaison Group which brings together TfL and those other authorities considering local road pricing pilots.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress his Department has made in achieving gender equality in public appointments to bodies which fall within his Department's responsibility since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The Government remain committed to improving diversity on the boards of public bodies and the principle of equal representation of women and men in public appointments. The annual Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies' contains details of the number of women appointed to public bodies each year by Department. For 1997- 2006 copies of these documents are available in the Libraries of the House for the reference of Members. From 1998 copies are also available on the internet at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/public_bodies/

Departments: Sick Pay

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all agency workers receive the statutory sick pay to which they are entitled; and which categories of agency workers are not entitled to statutory sick pay.

Jim Murphy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government's intention is for all agency workers to have equal access to statutory sick pay in line with other workers. The Government are therefore appealing a recent High Court decision which excludes agency workers with contracts of three months or less from entitlement to statutory sick pay.

Employment: Discrimination

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department has taken to raise awareness of the Age Discrimination Regulations among  (a) employers and  (b) employees.

Jim Fitzpatrick: ACAS good practice guidance for employers and employees, and DTI guidance on the occupational pensions aspects of the regulations were published in April 2006. The DTI website contains additional guidance, including the explanatory notes on regulations. The Directgov and BusinessLink sites also provide information and an interactive tool for individuals and employers. The Department for Work and Pensions' 'Be Ready' campaign has provided 1.4 million employers with practical information about age good practice and the legislation, and there has been substantial demand for further in depth information.
	DTI's l million capacity building programme provided funds for activities aimed at raising individuals' and employees' awareness of their new rights, and for up-skilling advice providers in the field of age discrimination. DTI has also committed a further 100,000 for a media campaign to increase levels of individual awareness of the age discrimination legislation.

Employment: Discrimination

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of employer redundancy schemes that could be unlawful under the age discrimination regulations.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government do not hold details of employers' individual redundancy schemes. Any such schemes that do not come within the exemption provided in the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 would still be lawful if they can be objectively justified.

Minimum Wage

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the policy reasons were for limiting the payment of the development rate minimum wage to 18 to 22-year-olds.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government believe that there should be a lower rate of the minimum wage for younger workers.
	Employment and unemployment levels for young workers are already significantly less favourable than those for older workers and our concern is that we might exacerbate this position if we moved young workers onto the adult rate.
	The Low Pay Commission has consistently advised that there is a lower rate for younger workers. In their 2005 report the Low Pay Commission said:
	Evidence suggests that the application of the adult rate to younger people would have adverse employment consequences, given the distinctive features of the labour market for young people.

Post Offices

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which post code districts will be exempt from the proposed access criterion that 95 per cent. of the population should live within six miles of a post office; in which  (a) local government area and  (b) county each district is located; what the size in (i) square miles and (ii) square kilometres is of each; what the estimated population is of each; what the location is of existing post offices in each district which will be exempt; and what the location was of post offices in each district which have closed since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 6 February 2007
	POL does not maintain information on the location of post offices in each district which have closed since 1997 or relating to the local government areas. Population numbers are estimated using established methodologies for calculating accessibility.
	
		
			  Postcode districts  Branch name  Postcode 
			 AB36 Strathdon AB36 8UL 
			 AB37 Ballindalloch AB37 9AS 
			 AB37 Marypark AB37 9BL 
			 AB37 Glenlivet AB37 9ED 
			 AB37 Tomintoul AB37 9ET 
			 AB37 Tomnavoulin AB37 9JA 
			 DD9 Brechin DD9 6AY 
			 DD9 Little Brechin DD9 6RQ 
			 DD9 Montrose Street DD9 7EF 
			 DD9 Edzell DD9 7TA 
			 DG10 Moffat DG10 9JH 
			 FK21 Killin FK21 8UH 
			 IV13   
			 IV16 Evanton IV16 9XT 
			 IV23 Garve IV23 2PR 
			 IV23 Lochluichart IV23 2PZ 
			 IV23 Dundonnell IV23 2QZ 
			 1V26 Ullapool IV26 2TY 
			 IV26 Achiltibuie IV26 2YG 
			 IV27 Rosehall IV27 4BE 
			 IV27 Lairg IV27 4DP 
			 IV27 Altass IV27 4EU 
			 IV27 Kylesku IV27 4HW 
			 IV27 Lochinver IV27 4JY 
			 IV27 Drumbeg IV27 4NW 
			 IV27 Durness IV27 4PN 
			 IV27 Achfary IV27 4PQ 
			 IV27 Balchrick IV27 4RU 
			 IV27 Scourie IV27 4TB 
			 IV27 Tongue IV27 4XF 
			 IV27 Talmine IV27 4YP 
			 IV28 Rogart IV28 3XA 
			 IV4 Beauly IV4 7BT 
			 IV4 Kiltarlity IV4 7JG 
			 IV4 Tomich IV4 7LF 
			 1V4 Cannich IV4 7LN 
			 IV52 Plockton IV52 8TL 
			 IV53   
			 IV54 Applecross IV54 SLR 
			 IV54 Lochcarron IV54 8YD 
			 IV54 Strathcarron IV54 SYR 
			 IV63 Drumnadrochit IV63 6TX 
			 IV63 Glenmoriston IV63 7YA 
			 KW11 Strathnaver KW11 6UA 
			 KW12 Westerdale KW126UP 
			 KW12 Halkirk KW12 6XN 
			 KW9 Brora KW9 6NY 
			 ML12 Biggar MLI2 6AA 
			 ML12 Broughton ML12 6HQ 
			 ML12 Symington ML12 6LJ 
			 ML12 Elsrickle ML12 6QZ 
			 ML12 Abington ML12 6SD 
			 ML12 Crawford ML12 6TP 
			 NE48 Falstone NE48 1AA 
			 NE48 Kielder NE48 1EQ 
			 NE48 Bellingham NE48 2AA 
			 NE48 West Woodburn NE48 2RX 
			 NE48 Simonburn NE48 SAW 
			 NE48 Stonehaugh NE48 3DY 
			 NE48 Birtley NE48 3HL 
			 NE48 Wark NE48 3LG 
			 NE48 Gunnerton NE48 4ED 
			 PA22 Colintraive PA22 3AS 
			 PA29 Tarbert PA29 6TN 
			 PA29 Glenbarr PA29 6UT 
			 PA29 Tayinloan PA29 6XG 
			 PA29 Clachan PA29 6XL 
			 PA29 Skipness PA29 6XT 
			 PA42 Port Ellen PA42 7BD 
			 PA60 Craighouse PA60 7XS 
			 PH10 Blairgowrie PH10 6AA 
			 PH10 New Rattray PH10 7BT 
			 PH10 Bridge of Cally PH10 7JG 
			 PH10 Kirkmichael Vill. Store PH10 7NT 
			 PH11 Alyth PH11 8AH 
			 PH11 Glenisla Village Shop PH11 8PQ 
			 PH16 Pitlochry PH16 5BL 
			 PH16 Kinloch Rannoch PH16 5PF 
			 PH17   
			 PH18 BlairAtholl PH18 5SG 
			 PH20 Newtonmore PH20 IDA 
			 PH21 Kingussie PH21 1HR 
			 PH21 Kincraig PH21 INA 
			 PH25 Nethybridge PH25 3DA 
			 PH31 Roy Bridge PH31 4AE 
			 PH35 Invergarry PH35 4HG 
			 PH49 Glencoe PH49 4HS 
			 PH49 Ballachulish PH49 4JB 
			 TD3 Gordon TD3 6JW 
			 TD7 Selkirk TD7 4BZ 
			 TD7 Midlem TD7 4QB 
			 TD7 Station Road TD7 5DJ 
		
	
	
		
			  Post code district  County  Estimated population  Post district (area square kilometre)  Post district (area square mile) 
			 AB36 Aberdeenshire 573 244.3 94 
			 AB37 Moray 813 402 155 
			 DD9 Angus 2,820 708.8 274 
			 DG10 Dumfries and Galloway 3,615 295.9 114 
			 FK21 Stirling 1,150 255.5 99 
			 IV13 Highland 470 440.7 170 
			 IV16 Highland 803 128.2 50 
			 IV23 Highland 825 990.2 382 
			 IV26 Highland 2,535 418.9 162 
			 IV27 Highland 1,582 3453 1,333 
			 IV28 Highland 928 264.3 102 
			 IV4 Highland 510 948.2 366 
			 IV52 Highland 784 11.35 4 
			 IV53 Highland 628 15.54 6 
			 IV54 Highland 1,222 829.5 320 
			 IV63 Highland 1,007 650 251 
			 KW11 Highland 306 757.6 293 
			 KW12 Highland 526 537.1 207 
			 KW9 Highland 1,675 102.5 40 
			 ML12 South Lanarkshire 2,001 947.9 366 
			 NE48 Northumberland 2,595 807.2 312 
			 PA22 Argyll and Bute 247 127.3 49 
			 PA29 Argyll and Bute 911 458.2 177 
			 PA42 Argyll and Bute 1,126 181.6 70 
			 PA60 Argyll and Bute 188 364.5 141 
			 PH10 Perth and Kinross 878 572.9 221 
			 PH11 Angus 816 285.3 110 
			 PH16 Perth and Kinross 876 369.4 143 
			 PHI7 Perth and Kinross 480 472.9 183 
			 PHI8 Perth and Kinross 756 673.5 260 
			 PH20 Highland 303 519.3 201 
			 PH21 Highland 3,025 584.8 226 
			 PH25 Highland 878 174.8 68 
			 PH31 Highland 548 417.6 161 
			 PH35 Highland 266 493.9 191 
			 PH49 Highland 441 300.7 116 
			 TD3 Scottish Borders 794 81.53 31 
			 TD7 Scottish Borders 1,305 569.5 220

Satellite Communications

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the potential threat to UK industry from viruses on 3G mobile telephones.

Margaret Hodge: I have had no discussions with Ofcom specifically on the question of viruses impacting on 3G phones. The Government believe that the security of communications is vital to consumer trust and confidence in the new technologies and the relevant parts of Government work together to achieve this within the overarching framework of the Government's information assurance strategy. A key element of this strategy is that the Government work with the technology vendors and the network service providers to both prevent problems arising and to help address those that do in a timely manner. Ofcom are a partner in this process.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Big Lottery Fund

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what total amount has been distributed by the Big Lottery Fund since its creation on projects in  (a) health,  (b) education and  (c) the environment.

Richard Caborn: Unfortunately we are unable to provide the information in the format requested as the Big Lottery Fund do not categorise what they fund according to these headings. Although it has four elements, their good cause is actually a single good cause and as such they are not required to differentiate what grants go under which sub-sector.
	However, the Big Lottery Fund has distributed 1,377,366,856.77 to good cause since its creation.

Cultural Heritage: Antarctic

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to support the efforts being made to preserve the Ross Sea Antarctic huts; and, following her answer of 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 63W, on the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, what progress has been made in seeking private funds.

David Lammy: On 23 February the Government announced that they are to contribute 250,000 to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust to support its work to restore Scott's hut at Cape Evans. DCMS has also asked Arts and Business to work with UKAHT on their fund raising campaign.

Departments: Appeals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by her Department and its executive agencies in  (a) 1997-98,  (b) 2001-02 and  (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

David Lammy: No independent bodies have existed to hear appeals on decisions made by DCMS or the Royal Parks, the Department's only executive agency, during the periods in question.

Departments: Complaints

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints were received by her Department and its executive agencies in  (a) 1997-98,  (b) 2001-02 and  (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

David Lammy: The information required is not collated centrally in this format, and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departments: Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what strategy she has put in place for  (a) the use of renewable energy and  (b) meeting energy targets in her Department's buildings; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department currently procures 100 per cent. renewable energy (electricity) under the OGC Buying Solutions Framework.
	We have developed an energy strategy with a detailed action plan with roles, responsibilities and key delivery dates.
	The Department has recently achieved accreditation to the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme.

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department has  (a) a gender strategy and  (b) a gender equality action plan in place.

David Lammy: DCMS anticipated the introduction of the gender equality duty by publishing a combined Equality Scheme in December 2006 addressing race, disability and gender. The Department is currently reviewing and updating that scheme and its action plan to ensure that it complies with the gender equality duty. An updated Equality Scheme will be published by 30 April 2007. The Department has also held an awareness seminar for our sponsored bodies and is encouraging compliance with the duty to publish an equality scheme by the April 2007 deadline.

Digital Broadcasting

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to encourage public service broadcasters to make their services available in high definition format.

Shaun Woodward: The question whether to offer services in high definition format is one for individual broadcasters to consider. The BBC's Public Purposes under the Charter include the general obligation of helping deliver to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services.

Olympic Games: Devon

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the likely effect on Lottery funding awarded to recipients in  (a) Torridge and West Devon constituency and  (b) England over the next (i) three, (ii) six and (iii) nine years of the National Lottery funding for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Richard Caborn: It was always understood when we bid that National Lottery funding for London 2012 would involve some loss of income to the non-Olympic good causes, though it is not possible to estimate this on a constituency-by-constituency basis. Overall though, non-Olympic Lottery distributors may lose an average of 5 per cent. of their income because of sales diversion to Olympic Lottery games over the period 2005-06 to 2012-13. In addition, we have already announced that 410 million will be taken from non-Olympic Lottery proceeds between 2009 and 2012. No decision has been made about how that amount will be shared between the various non-Olympic good causes.
	The Government are currently considering how the additional Olympic costs of 900 million should be met. No conclusions have yet been reached on the further use of Lottery funding.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what spectrum will be available for programme making and special events during the 2012 Olympic Games.

Richard Caborn: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom), as independent regulator for the communications sector. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of the Digital Dividend Review on the use of radio microphones and radio cameras during the 2012 Olympic Games.

Shaun Woodward: The matters raised are the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) as independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

World Heritage Sites

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which locations in the UK have  (a) been granted World Heritage site status,  (b) been nominated for such status and  (c) indicated to her an interest in making an application for World Heritage site status.

David Lammy: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) The 27 UK World Heritage sites are listed in the table:
	
		
			  World Heritage sites  Date of inscription 
			 Castles and Town Wall of King Edward in Gwynedd 1986 
			 Durham Castle and Cathedral 1986 
			 Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast 1986 
			 Ironbridge Gorge 1986 
			 St. Kilda (1)1986 
			 Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites 1986 
			 Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey 1986 
			 Blenheim Palace 1987 
			 City of Bath 1987 
			 Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Hadrian's Wall (2)1987 
			 Palace of Westminster, St. Margaret's Church and Westminster Abbey 1987 
			 Canterbury Cathedral, St. Augustine's Abbey and St. Martin's Church 1988 
			 Henderson Island 1988 
			 Tower of London 1988 
			 Gough and Inaccessible Islands (3)1995 
			 Old and New Towns of Edinburgh 1995 
			 Maritime Greenwich 1997 
			 Heart of Neolithic Orkney 1999 
			 Blaenavon Industrial Landscape 2000 
			 The Historic Town of St. George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda 2000 
			 Derwent Valley Mills 2001 
			 Dorset and East Devon Coast 2001 
			 New Lanark 2001 
			 Saltaire 2001 
			 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2003 
			 LiverpoolMaritime Mercantile City 2004 
			 Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape 2006 
			 (1 )Extended 2004, 2005 (2 )Extended 2005 (3) Extended 2004 
		
	
	 (b) The current UK nominations are Darwin at Downe, which will be considered by the World Heritage Committee in June 2007 and The Antonine Wall, which will be considered in summer 2008.
	 (c) Between my Department, English Heritage and the Devolved Administrations, we receive on average about one new inquiry each month on prospective sites for inclusion on the UK Tentative List, which is shortly to be reviewed. We currently have some 46 such sites on file, one of which is Colchester.

World Heritage Sites: Albania

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to support the application by the Region of Berati (Albania) to UNESCO for World Heritage site status; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The UK is no longer a member of the World Heritage Committee, our four year term of office having ended in 2006. My Department has not seen the nomination for the Region of Berati, but wishes Albania success in its nomination process.

PRIME MINISTER

Treaty of Rome: Anniversaries

William Hague: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make oral statements in the House following the meeting of  (a) the European Council on 8th to 9th March and  (b) Heads of State and Government of the European Union marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome on 24th to 25th March.

Tony Blair: I shall inform the House about the outcome of both events.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of overpayment of benefits by his Department was in each of the last eight years.

James Plaskitt: pursuant to the reply, 8 November 2006, Official Report, c. 1613-14W
	The information requested is only available from the fiscal year 2000-01.
	The overpayments of benefit are identified in the following table. This is broken down between those that are recoverable under social security legislation, because of claimant error or fraud, and the total, which will include those overpayments that were not recoverable under social security legislation:
	
		
			   million 
			   Recoverable  Total 
			 2000-01 363 494 
			 2001-02 328 434 
			 2002-03 304 417 
			 2003-04 278 363 
			 2004-05 307 408 
			 2005-06 365 (1)464 
			 (1) This represents 0.4 per cent. of total benefit expenditure. 
		
	
	The Department initiated a programme in 2001 to bring increased focus to the management and recovery of benefit overpayments. This programme had delivered by 2005 a dedicated debt management organisation, with a new computer system rolled out by February 2006.
	This has succeeded in heightening the profile of recovery of overpayments, particularly those arising through fraud or claimant error, which forms the majority of the overpayments that are identified, as shown. As part of this increased profile, the Department now uses private sector companies to help recover debts where the Department's own recovery attempts have been unsuccessful. This reinforces the message that we are taking recovery of debt seriously.
	In addition, to help tackle the error problem the Department has taken a three pronged approach:
	Set up a dedicated official error reduction task force with the specific aim of achieving demonstrable reductions in official error in short term by December 2006.
	Established a dedicated benefit simplification team focused on exploring how the benefit system could be simplified.
	Is developing a longer-term error reduction strategy which will set out medium and long term solutions to further improve benefit correctness.

Departmental Websites

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many user visits were recorded on the Jobcentre Plus website in each week of the last five years.

Jim Murphy: The Jobcentre Plus website was launched in March 2002. The software that measures the number of user visits was implemented in January 2003.
	The information on the number of user visits each week since January 2003 has been placed in the Library.

Departments: Conferences

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the conferences which were funded in whole or part by his Department in the last 12 months; how many people attended each; and what the cost to his Department was of each conference.

Jim Murphy: The information requested is not available centrally in the format requested and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Official Cars

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many vehicles belonging to his Department were  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in each year since 1997; and what the (i) make and model and (ii) value was of each vehicle.

Anne McGuire: We have no records held prior to year 2000.
	The following vehicles were all stolen. DWP has not lost any vehicles within the period stated:
	
		
			   Make/model  Value () 
			 August 2000 Ford Orion Ghia 1.8 4dr 2,000 
			 November 2000 Vauxhall Astra 2.0 LS 5dr dsl 4,225 
			 October 2001 Fiat Punto 1.9 ELX 5dr 5,500 
			 February 2002 Peugeot 206 LX Hdi 90 2.0 3dr 1,900.90 
			 March 2002 Vauxhall Astramax 365 Panel Van 1.7 2dr 500 
			 April 2002 Peugeot 307 GLX Hdi 90 2.0 5dr 7,000 
			 September 2002 Vauxhall Vectra LS 2.0 5dr 2,878.97 
			 September 2002 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 CDX 5dr 1,500 
			 December 2004 Fiat Stilo Active 1.9 JTD 5dr 5,076.62 
			  Peugeot 307 Rapier Hdi 90 2.0 5dr 3,625 
			 March 2005 Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.0 5dr 6,800 
			 July 2005 Vauxhall Astra LS 1.6 5dr 2,500 
			 May 2006 Peugeot 406 LX 2.0 5dr 2,867.22

Jobcentre Plus: Darlington

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies were notified to Jobcentre Plus in Darlington in each of the last 12 months.

Jim Murphy: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus Office in Darlington, 2006 
			  Month of notification  Number of vacancies 
			 January 510 
			 February 670 
			 March 710 
			 April 800 
			 May 700 
			 June 660 
			 July 1,000 
			 August 1,230 
			 September 1,040 
			 October 1,180 
			 November 860 
			 December 830 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures represent the number of new vacancies notified to Jobcentre Plus each month rather than the total number of vacancies available.  Source: DWP Information Directorate Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System

Jobseeker's Allowance: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed jobseeker's allowance in  (a) Hornsey and Wood Green constituency and  (b) each London borough in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.

James Plaskitt: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Labour Market: Immigration

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department is conducting into the impact on the UK labour market of migration from central and eastern Europe.

Jim Murphy: In February 2006, DWP published a working paper on the impact of free movement of workers from Central and Eastern Europe on the UK labour market, which has been placed in the Library.
	DWP also contribute to the quarterly Accession Monitoring Report which is published on the Home Office website.
	We are continuing to monitor the impact of accession country migration on the UK labour market.

Lone Parents

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average benefit income is for a working lone parent in a private sector flat in West Ham constituency;
	(2)  what the average benefit cost is of a working lone parent in a private sector flat who uses formal child care arrangements in West Ham;
	(3)  what the average benefit cost is of a lone parent with  (a) one child,  (b) two children and (c) three or more children in an average private sector flat in West Ham constituency;
	(4)  what the average benefit cost is of an  (a) working and  (b) non-working lone parent in a private sector flat with (i) one child, (ii) two children and (iii) three or more children who uses formal child care arrangements in West Ham constituency.

Jim Murphy: The information is not available.

Motability

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people leased  (a) a car and  (b) a powered wheelchair through Motability in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: Motability is a national charity that assists disabled people with their mobility needs. The Motability scheme enables disabled people to obtain a car, powered wheelchair or scooter by using their disability living allowance mobility component or their war pensioners' mobility supplement as a funding stream.
	Motability provides cars via both contract hire and hire purchase. Route2mobility provide scooters and powered wheelchairs via contract hire and hire purchase.
	The following table gives details of leased and hire purchased cars and powered wheelchairs over the last five years.
	
		
			   Contract hire car  New car hire purchase  Used car hire purchase  Total cars (contract hire and hire purchase)  Wheelchairs and scooters (contract hire and hire purchase) 
			 2005-06 396,633 6,082 13,650 416,365 6,881 
			 2004-05 371,058 7,193 11,300 395,789 6,238 
			 2003-04 366,959 7,396 7,485 388,187 6,347 
			 2002-03 378,414 6,526 4,185 395,257 6,132 
			 2001-02 378,447 7,002 4,172 395,546 5,925

Pension Credit: Scotland

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Scotland he estimates are eligible for pension credit, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

James Purnell: holding answer 6 February 2007
	Estimates of eligibility, and therefore of take-up, are not available below the level of Great Britain, and it is not therefore possible to say what the take-up of pension credit in Scotland is.
	The latest estimates of the number of pensioners in Great Britain entitled to pension credit were published in 'Pension Credit Estimates of Take-Up in 2004-05'. A copy of the report is available in the Library.
	Pension credit has been highly successful in reducing pensioner poverty and now, for the first time in a period of sustained economic growth, pensioners are less likely to be in poverty than the population as a whole. Since the introduction of pension credit, the number of pensioners in relative poverty has fallen by half a million.
	We continue to make every effort to ensure that pension credit goes to those who are entitled to it. The latest estimates showed that 2.7 million households were receiving pension credit, and this includes 283,480 households in Scotland.
	 Notes
	1. The figure provided is an early estimate. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure which is taken from the GMS scan at 1 September 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	3. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
	 Source
	DWP 100 per cent data from the Generalised Matching Service (QMS) pension credit scan taken as at 1 September 2006.

Poverty: Greater London

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress there has been in implementing the Harker Report's recommendations regarding child poverty in London; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: We welcome Lisa Harker's comprehensive and challenging report and are considering her recommendations in detail including those on the particular problems of child poverty in London. We will set out our responses to the report when we publish our renewed child poverty strategy.

Written Questions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to Question 104707, on wheels to work, tabled by the hon. Member for Daventry for answer on 4 December 2006.

Jim Murphy: A reply was given to the hon. Member on 27 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1217W.

Written Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer question 105425, tabled on 5 December 2006 by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South.

Jim Murphy: I replied to the hon. Member's question on 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1487W.

Written Questions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer questions 113803 and 101303, on public sector pensions, tabled on 16 November 2006 by the hon. Member for Yeovil.

Jim Murphy: Replies were given to the hon. Member's questions on 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 367W and column 368W respectively.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Health

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical conditions are not compatible with service in the  (a) Army,  (b) Navy and  (c) Royal Air Force.

Derek Twigg: Due to the physical demands on members of the armed services, a high degree of physical capacity is needed, varying in nature and quality according to the demands of the employment. Guidelines and principles on medical conditions that may affect an individual's suitability for employment within the services are set down in Joint Services Publication (JSP) 346, with the specific aim of maximising the availability of the military population. This publication is constantly being reviewed and updated to reflect the changing demands and advances in clinical procedures and medical understanding.
	The JSP 346 is based on the PULHHEEMS System of Medical Classification, in which examination of the individual is carried out with particular reference to certain sub-divisions of physical and mental function. The make up of the acronym PULHHEEMS is as follows:
	P = physical capacity
	U = upper limbs
	L = locomotion
	HH = hearing (hearing acuity)
	EE = eyesight (visual acuity)
	M = mental capacity
	S = stability (emotional).
	These sub-divisions are known as qualities, and the combined assessment under each of these qualities forms the PULHHEEMS code number or profile. An assessment has been made of the physical and mental requirement for each of the various service trades and employments. Cross-referring between these and an individual's personal profile ensures that a person will not be employed on any duties for which he is not physically and mentally suited.
	Service personnel are required to attend a pre-entry medical when they join the armed forces. If any medical condition is identified, decisions on their suitability for employment will be made on an individual basis, including referral to a specialist medical consultant where necessary. Furthermore the JSP 346 guidelines on medical classification apply throughout the career of service personnel, including circumstances when medical conditions arise during the course of a service career. Each case is considered on its merit and no guidance can meet every contingency. For serving personnel, the aim wherever possible is to ensure the early return to duty in an appropriate grading (modified if necessary) and for serving personnel to be employed to the best advantage of the service and without detriment to themselves.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what physical rehabilitation is available to reservists injured on operations.

Derek Twigg: Any mobilised serviceman or woman injured when on operational deployment is treated the same, and will receive exactly the same medical treatment and support, whether they are regular or reserve. If a medical officer in-theatre assesses that a member of the reserve forces requires treatment or rehabilitation back in the UK, they will be treated in exactly the same way as regular personnel. This may include treatment and rehabilitation at a military Regional Rehabilitation Unit or the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, Surrey.
	When reserve personnel are demobilised, they are given a medical assessment. During this process, if it is identified that they are in need of an operation they may be referred to one of five Ministry of Defence Hospital Units, where they will be treated within military timeframes, which can offer faster access to treatment. Reserve personnel will receive treatment for injuries sustained on operation until they are deemed to have reached a steady state of fitness. They are then demobilised, and taken through a transition from military to NHS care, if they have continuing healthcare needs.
	The patient may express a preference for treatment in a hospital nearer to their home, which may be a non-MDHU hospital, and some reservists opt for this route. In accordance with NHS protocols, if they are referred on to a non-MDHU hospital, then access to treatment is according to clinical priority.

Armed Forces: Insurance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the tender for the service personnel life insurance programme.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The Ministry of Defence issued two tenders in support of the Service Life Insurance 'SLI' programme; one for an insurer and another for a manager. I will arrange for copies of both tenders to be placed in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Private Education

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what system of accountability is in place to monitor the decisions made by service personnel who have children in private education funded by his Department; what checks are made of  (a) claims issued and  (b) allowance sought; whether inappropriate claims can be recouped; and whether disciplinary action can be taken following misuse of funds.

Derek Twigg: All three services are required to ensure that all Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) applications are strictly in accordance with current regulations so that the allowance is only paid to those eligible and meets the Department's aim.
	The aim of CEA is to assist service personnel to achieve continuity of education for their child(ren) that would otherwise be denied in the maintained day school sector if their child(ren) accompanied them on frequent assignments both at home and overseas. On receipt of the allowance it is a parent's choice whether to educate their child(ren) in either a state maintained or private boarding school.
	A service applicant must acknowledge formally that they are submitting a CEA claim in accordance with current regulations. Also, they must certify that their family will move with them to their new duty station whenever their service requires them to do so. This is known as family mobility and is a significant commitment for a service family. Therefore, should a service person fail to move their family with them when they are assigned to a new duty station, then their entitlement to CEA will be reviewed. This may result in the allowance being stopped and the service person required to repay any CEA they have received prior to that posting.
	At all times, the service claimant must fully accept that accompanied service is the overriding principle for maintaining CEA entitlement. Accompanied service is when a service person maintains a home in which their spouse/civil partner and any dependant child(ren) normally live and from which the service person travels daily to work. However, there are a few exceptions to the accompanied service criteria, but these only apply when it is unreasonable for a service person to be accompanied by their family, such as when they are undertaking an operational deployment. In such circumstances, the services ensure that CEA is only paid strictly in accordance with current regulations.
	CEA is now administered by Joint Personnel Administration (JPA), which undertakes a number of automatic checks for all claims. JPA will check:
	(a) that the claimant has a current mobility certificate and if the certificate is more than three-years old, or the service person is re-assigned or a child changes school, then a new mobility certificate must be completed. This will automatically prompt a review of the service person's entitlement to CEA;
	(b) that the child for whom the claim is being submitted is registered as a child of the claimant. This will also check that the child is between the ages of 8 and 18;
	(c) that the state maintained or private boarding school in which the claimant wishes to place their child(ren) is registered on the Ministry of Defence Accredited Schools Database.
	JPA will also limit the service claimant to one claim for each child per term. In addition, all claims are subject to manual authorisation by either service or civilian human resources (HR) staff. They will consider every claim and the claimant must provide receipted bills for the previous term's school fees to their HR authoriser before any payment is approved. If, upon investigation, a claim is deemed to be fraudulent or contrary to regulations, then administrative action is undertaken to recover in full these payments. In addition, following an appropriate investigation, this could result in disciplinary action against a claimant.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what targets his Department sets for the skills mix of new recruits to the armed forces;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2007,  Official Report, column 551W, on recruitment, what  (a) level of education and  (b) qualifications had been achieved by recruits to the armed forces.

Derek Twigg: All potential OR recruits have to pass a basic entry test; Naval Service applicants sit the Recruit Test (RT); Army applicants the British Army Recruit Battery (BARB) Test; RAF applicants the Airman Selection Test (AST). This test provides an objective and reliable assessment of the potential recruit's intellectual capability and aptitude to succeed in trade training. In addition:
	RN: Formal educational qualifications are required in some specialised branches, i.e.: Communications Technicians, (minimum two GCSEs, including Maths and English); Dental Surgery Asst (two GCSEs, including English + preferably Science); Naval Nurse (Student), (three GCSEs, including Maths, English + a Science or equivalent and 200 (UCAS) points). All applicants must achieve Basic Skills Level 2 including the English Speaking and Listening assessment.
	Army: An applicant's eligibility to qualify for a particular form of training is determined by results achieved in the BARB. Failure to achieve the minimum standard will result in the applicant being ineligible. Basic Skills test were re-introduced in April 2006applicants are required to achieve a minimum of Entry Level 2 (along with an English Speaking and Listening Test). A number of trades require GCSEs which vary in subjects and grades.
	RAF: In accordance with the new national standard, the RAF have decided to introduce for all trades a minimum entry requirement of a level 1 qualification (or equivalent) in adult literacy and numeracy. The change will apply to those seeking to enter service on or after 1 April 2007. In general the minimum requirement for potential officer recruits is five GCSE passes (or equivalent) of which English and Maths are mandatory, plus two 'A' Level passes at Grade E or above (or equivalent in UCAS Tariff points). For lateral officer entry, for example trained nurses, the potential recruit must have achieved the appropriate qualifications such as a degree or diploma in nursing.
	The armed forces do not have specific skills mix targets for recruits. The results of the basic entry tests determine the branches/trade(s) for which new recruits are eligible.

Army: Zimbabwe

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were recruited to the Army from Zimbabwe in each of the last three years.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The table provides intake figures to the Army for those personnel with a nationality of Zimbabwean in each of the last three years:
	
		
			  Intake( 1)  from civilian life to UK Regular Army( 2) , for those with a nationality( 3)  of Zimbabwean 
			  Date of Intake  Number of Inflows 
			 2004 80 
			 2005 40 
			 2006 50 
			 (1) Figures show all intake to the UK Regular Army including re-enlistments and rejoined reservists. Figures include both officer and soldier intake. (2) UK Regular Army includes nursing services and excludes full-time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. It includes trained and untrained personnel. (3) The nationality given above is that recorded on intake and not necessarily the same as the nationality at birth.  Note: Figures have been rounded to 10. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of the parts.

Iraq and Afghanistan

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to recruit and train paramedics to serve with the front lines in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 28 February 2007
	The single services each currently assess that their individual requirement for paramedics who would meet the civilian Health Professions Council (HPC) criteria is small, and each recruits and trains personnel to meet their particular requirements.
	 Royal Navy
	The Navy recruits and trains a range of personnel who come under the heading of medical assistants, many of whom undertake equivalent tasks to civilian paramedics but who would not meet the specific HPC criteria. Medical assistants are recruited and trained according to an overall Navy requirement rather than in support of a specific land-based deployment to, for example, Iraq or Afghanistan. With regard to specific deployments, medical assistants undertake the same pre-deployment training as other medical personnel. Within the cadre of medical assistants there are a number of sub-specialties such as operating department practitioners, commando, and submarine who will also receive extra training for their speciality.
	 Army
	The Army Medical Service (AMS) does have a small number of paramedics. However, the majority of personnel are recruited as combat medical technicians (CMTs) whose duties are similar to those of ambulance technicians but with additional primary health care and military acute care training, which is developed to meet the particular needs of combat. Although the Regular and Territorial Army have recruited a few qualified civilian paramedics, CMTs generally join as unqualified individuals and then receive specific medical training while they are serving. A small number of CMTs have been selected for paramedic training.
	While basic training for all operations is the same, all AMS personnel undertake pre-deployment training prior to operations to ensure that skills are tailored to the specific threats of that theatre. MOD has contracts with the East Anglia and Great Western NHS Ambulance Trusts. East Anglia provides ambulance technician training for Army combat medical technicians and Great Western provides full paramedic training to achieve Health Professions Council registration.
	 RAF
	There are currently no established paramedic posts in the RAF. However, the RAF has recently identified an operational requirement of 65 medical assistants to be trained as paramedics. Work is currently being undertaken by the Personnel and Policy Steering Group to fulfil this requirement, with the aim of training appropriate personnel during the next two years.
	To comply with the RAF operational requirements for their helicopter immediate response teams, the RAF personnel will also receive training to work with the Great Western helicopter emergency services.

Meat Supplies

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2007,  Official Report, column 688W, on meat supplies, which countries provided the poultry, gammon and bacon products which were imported.

Derek Twigg: Poultry is currently being sourced from the UK, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The exact amount purchased from each country is dependant upon constantly changing market factors including quality, availability and cost. Gammon and bacon products are being sourced from Denmark and The Netherlands.

Military Bases

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many full-time equivalent employees are employed by contractors at  (a) HM Naval Base, Clyde,  (b) AWE Aldermaston and  (c) AWE Burghfield.

Derek Twigg: The Department does not centrally hold data concerning employees of contractors.
	Information from Babcock Naval Services, the MOD's industrial partner at HM Naval Base, Clyde, indicate that in addition to the number of people employed at Babcock Naval Services, which stands at around 1,430 (headcount), there are around 300 (headcount) additional sub-contractors at the base.
	Information from AWE plc, the primary contractors at the combined sites of AWE Aldermaston and AWE Burghfield, indicates that approximately 2,000 people are employed through various contracting arrangements with AWE plc to support operations at those sites. This is in addition to the staff that AWE plc themselves employ, about which the hon. Member has asked separately.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision was made for the operating cost of conventional forces protecting the nuclear deterrent within the current and projected in-service costs of the UK's nuclear deterrent published in paragraph 5-14 of the White Paper on the Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent.

Des Browne: Paragraph 5-14 of the White Paper: The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994) refers to the current and future in-service costs of the UK's nuclear deterrent, including the costs for the Atomic Weapons Establishment. It does not include the cost of any conventional forces. This is in line with the way we normally report the costs of the nuclear deterrent.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the work detailed in the breakdown of nuclear liabilities outlined in the answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) of 24 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 778-79W, on nuclear liabilities, is likely to be carried out before 2055; and which of the items in that answer are included in the projected in-service costs for Trident and its replacement in paragraph 5-14 of the White Paper on the Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent.

Des Browne: Some 65 per cent. of the nuclear liabilities outlined in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) of 24 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 778-79W, are expected to be incurred before 2055. The elements of those liabilities related to the current Trident system are included in the estimate of in-service costs of the UK's nuclear deterrent set out at paragraph 5-14 of the White Paper: The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994). That estimate also includes an allowance for the decommissioning of a successor system.

Nuclear Weapons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the role of the British nuclear deterrent in countering terrorism from abroad; whether he plans to revise the new chapter of the Strategic Defence Review on this subject to take account of the White Paper on Trident; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: As we set out in paragraph 3-11 of the White Paper The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cm 6994).
	While our nuclear deterrent is not designed to deter non-state actors, it should influence the decision making of any state that might consider transferring nuclear technology to terrorists.
	As such, the position is entirely consistent with the analysis set out in the Strategic Defence Review: New Chapter (Cm 5566).

Nuclear Weapons

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he expects the annual expenditure on renewing the UK's nuclear deterrent capability to be in each of the next 20 years.

Des Browne: holding answer 2 March 2007
	Our initial estimates of the future costs (including the procurement costs) involved in sustaining our independent nuclear deterrent capability were set out in paragraphs 5-11 to 5-14 of the White Paper: The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent, published on 4 December. At this very early stage in the procurement process, we are not in a position to break down these estimates in the way requested.

Territorial Army: Pay

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  in which month annual bounties were paid to serving members of the Territorial Army in respect of service in each year between 1997 and 2006;
	(2)  in which month annual bounties will be paid to serving members of the Territorial Army in respect of service in 2006-07.

Derek Twigg: Annual bounties were paid to members of the Territorial Army in every month of the calendar years 1997 to 2006 inclusive.
	While it cannot be predicted in which months annual bounties will be paid for service in 2007, the majority are normally paid in April of each calendar year as the end of the Territorial Army training year is 31 March.

Uniforms

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the  (a) average and  (b) total annual cost of the (i) maintenance, (ii) storage and (iii) transportation of bearskin headpieces.

Adam Ingram: The average cost of refurbishing a bearskin cap is between 250 to 300, depending on the type of repair. An estimated 550 bearskin caps have been refurbished since 2001 at a cost of approximately 150,000. There are no other maintenance costs. Bearskins are stored with other items of uniform and incur no additional storage costs. Details of transportation could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Blind and Partially Sighted Pupils

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that blind and partially sighted pupils in Northern Ireland have adequate access to suitable school text books.

Maria Eagle: I have recently announced the commencement of research into the availability of textbooks and other materials for visually impaired schoolchildren. A project team will consider and scope the scale of the difficulties in Northern Ireland in making available such provision, for example in large print, audio and Braille formats.
	The project team comprises membership from the education sector and from stakeholder groups, such as the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Jordanstown Schools for children with auditory and visual impairments. The team will present its report and recommendations, with an action plan for the way forward, by the end of March 2007.

Children: Maintenance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many parents in each Northern Ireland parliamentary constituency defaulted on their child support payments in each of the last 18 months for which figures are available.

David Hanson: The number of parents in each Northern Ireland parliamentary constituency who have defaulted on their child support payments in each of the last 18 months is shown in the following tables. The information has been broken down to show the number of non-resident parents who have defaulted on their child support payments by either not complying at all or by only partially complying.
	
		
			  Number of nil and partially compliant non-resident parents by parliamentary constituency 
			   Belfast East  Belfast North  Belfast South  Belfast West  East Antrim  East Londonderry 
			   Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial 
			 August 2005 144 72 239 116 119 55 257 112 196 80 178 80 
			 September 2005 147 87 234 143 129 87 266 156 194 93 185 109 
			 October 2005 142 78 231 115 116 65 238 121 179 69 176 72 
			 November 2005 159 65 245 94 133 58 255 112 191 59 185 66 
			 December 2005 176 95 285 189 147 106 308 188 218 101 203 104 
			 January 2006 155 44 276 88 132 58 275 90 216 46 190 59 
			 February 2006 190 59 310 111 164 56 328 97 260 67 235 54 
			 March 2006 164 95 279 176 144 70 293 192 215 92 204 91 
			 April 2006 172 69 300 105 154 62 300 111 214 67 214 50 
			 May 2006 174 91 293 169 145 76 303 155 210 80 205 87 
			 June 2006 180 115 286 187 143 85 296 211 210 112 191 102 
			 July 2006 179 71 298 102 146 63 306 124 220 65 202 83 
			 August 2006 171 89 292 136 159 52 293 150 200 81 210 79 
			 September 2006 191 93 311 185 142 92 293 192 215 116 213 106 
			 October 2006 200 68 326 111 151 78 299 120 221 82 222 79 
			 November 2006 205 74 329 107 161 71 315 142 224 74 218 66 
			 December 2006 204 110 333 200 175 88 340 226 224 109 236 107 
			 January 2007 206 75 334 151 184 66 325 160 210 70 226 82 
		
	
	
		
			   Fermanagh and South Tyrone  Foyle  Lagan Valley  Mid Ulster  Newry and Armagh  North Antrim 
			   Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial 
			 August 2005 99 47 228 114 157 86 141 55 158 67 208 77 
			 September 2005 104 63 253 109 163 90 141 79 171 83 190 122 
			 October 2005 98 34 220 118 163 74 132 52 152 57 193 76 
			 November 2005 117 28 281 101 171 61 149 42 177 52 223 74 
			 December 2005 121 66 286 192 183 119 160 84 190 115 233 113 
			 January 2006 114 34 269 77 189 51 152 41 184 43 223 45 
			 February 2006 140 30 313 80 214 75 167 54 205 62 240 60 
			 March 2006 131 61 267 179 183 95 159 88 183 87 209 122 
			 April 2006 129 49 288 107 187 66 162 53 191 60 226 63 
			 May 2006 135 50 268 151 177 93 163 72 193 84 205 91 
			 June 2006 126 58 269 157 173 121 170 75 187 113 207 126 
			 July 2006 118 40 272 107 177 84 174 59 182 67 217 65 
			 August 2006 123 48 269 115 179 69 160 50 197 57 207 77 
			 September 2006 125 60 280 179 189 114 169 80 192 120 216 134 
			 October 2006 123 42 286 110 186 75 162 70 199 67 229 77 
			 November 2006 119 42 311 113 191 81 145 64 213 55 229 76 
			 December 2006 135 66 313 178 200 114 160 92 222 135 239 125 
			 January 2007 126 56 314 123 190 68 177 53 214 82 240 94 
		
	
	
		
			   North Down  South Antrim  South Down  Strangford  Upper Bann  West Tyrone 
			   Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial  Nil  Partial 
			 August 2005 151 47 190 68 171 62 193 86 207 124 129 53 
			 September 2005 157 76 210 94 187 87 201 107 228 161 133 66 
			 October 2005 141 59 201 64 175 77 200 80 205 115 128 36 
			 November 2005 149 58 204 63 194 63 213 94 219 116 130 43 
			 December 2005 165 81 227 91 215 100 228 129 241 187 139 91 
			 January 2006 153 38 205 58 187 68 219 75 247 89 127 31 
			 February 2006 182 43 223 58 218 57 239 74 277 104 154 47 
			 March 2006 154 83 208 95 185 90 212 134 246 158 139 74 
			 April 2006 172 48 214 62 194 70 218 80 262 105 147 41 
			 May 2006 163 77 196 91 193 101 213 112 251 117 144 72 
			 June 2006 166 92 213 113 189 117 220 119 237 164 143 90 
			 July 2006 184 57 226 62 210 71 214 95 252 109 152 58 
			 August 2006 182 58 197 88 212 71 216 89 249 96 172 54 
			 September 2006 185 92 221 112 219 109 238 115 261 143 182 75 
			 October 2006 179 59 221 89 213 89 230 88 249 119 170 44 
			 November 2006 175 68 217 96 224 70 218 83 276 84 161 51 
			 December 2006 204 85 230 128 225 131 243 136 292 142 172 86 
			 January 2007 191 63 221 86 228 93 236 90 279 101 168 49

Housing: Standards

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the Decent Homes Scheme to Northern Ireland; what research has been undertaken by his Department to ascertain how many homes in Northern Ireland fall below the Decent Homes Scheme standard; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Decent Homes Standard was introduced to the social housing sector in Northern Ireland in 2004.
	A Decent Home is defined as a home that is warm, weatherproof and has reasonably modern facilities. Government aim to bring all social housing to the Decent Homes standard by 2010.
	The 2004 Interim House Condition Survey showed that approximately 32,000 social households failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard, a reduction of 27,000 from the 2001 House Condition Survey. It is anticipated that the 2006 Housing Condition Survey will show a farther reduction.

Identity Cards

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Home Office in relation to the operation of the national identity card scheme in Northern Ireland; and what estimate he has made of the resources needed to operate the scheme in Northern Ireland.

Peter Hain: I have not made any assessment of the likely cost of implementing the scheme in Northern Ireland because the cost of issuing ID cards along with passports is, as an excepted matter, a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. The Northern Ireland Office and the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister are represented at official level on interdepartmental groups convened by the Home Office to look at identity issues and, in particular, the role of ID cards. The decision about whether, and if so how, ID cards are to be used in the provisions of services in Northern Ireland will be a matter for a future Northern Ireland Executive following restoration.

Ministerial Duties

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on which dates in the last month he  (a) attended his Department's offices (i) in London and (ii) in Belfast,  (b) dealt with departmental business (i) in the House and (ii) elsewhere and  (c) undertook other engagements in his official capacity.

Peter Hain: I apologise for the lateness of this answer due to an administrative oversight.
	During November 2006 I attended my departmental offices on the following dates:
	
		
			   Dates 
			 London Office 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 15, 20, 21, 22 and 30 November 
			 Belfast Office 7, 13, 14, 23, 24, 27 and 30 November 
		
	
	I dealt with departmental business in the House of Commons on 2, 6, 15, 20, 21, 22 and 30 November 2007 and elsewhere on 1, 2, 8 and 9 November 2006.
	I undertook other engagements in an official capacity on 2, 7, 13 and 14 November in both Belfast and London.
	In addition I receive official papers on a daily basis and am always available to conduct business over the telephone.

Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland on her definition of collusion.

Peter Hain: I have not met the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to discuss her definition of collusion but rather to explore the findings of a recent report into the murder of Raymond McCourt Jnr.

Primary Education

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students attended a maintained primary school in Northern Ireland in  (a) 1995-96 and  (b) 2005-06.

Maria Eagle: In 1995-96, 91,246 children attended Catholic maintained, and 1,083 children attended other maintained, primary schools. In 2005-06, 77,678 children attended Catholic maintained, and 2,181 attended other maintained, primary schools.
	These figures include children in nursery, reception and year one to seven classes.

Rivers Agency: Manpower

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were  (a) employed and  (b) recruited by the Rivers Agency in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

David Cairns: According to the Rivers Agency's Corporate Business Plan, 446 people were employed in 2005-06 and 458 in 2006-07. These figures reflect the staff in post position in July 2005 and 2006 respectively.
	The Agency currently employs 429 people.
	The number of people recruited by Rivers Agency in each of the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			  March to February each year  Number 
			 2004-05 53 
			 2005-06 24 
			 2006-07 18 
		
	
	The figures include industrial, non-industrial and casual staff.

Schools

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the Bain report on future school building projects in Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: The Bain report recommended the establishment of a coherent area-based approach to the planning of the schools estate. Future school building projects will need to be compatible with well-developed area plans. Previously announced capital projects which are currently under way are being reviewed for their consistency with an area-based approach.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

10 Downing Street

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1009W, on 10 Downing street: repairs and maintenance, what the schedule is for refurbishment and maintenance in 2007.

Hilary Armstrong: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1667W, by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of the primary care trusts visited by the Prime Minister's delivery unit have accident and emergency departments earmarked for closure.

Hilary Armstrong: Reconfiguration of NHS services, including (accident and emergency) A and E units, is a local decision to be made by Chief Executives of local NHS organisations, as they are best placed to consider the needs of their local NHS patients. PMDU has not discussed possible A and E closure decisions on its visits to PCTs and is not part of this decision-making process.

Departments: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what databases are controlled by her Department and its agencies; and what percentage of the data in each database she estimates is inaccurate or out of date.

Patrick McFadden: The following lists the databases controlled by the Department. This has been compiled from existing records of significant departmental databases. It does not include all locally-based data collections that sit across departmental networks, the collection of which would incur disproportionate costs.
	 Database title
	HRhuman resources
	CORASresource accounting
	Fast Stream Recruitmentgraduate recruitment
	Stock Databaseregulations management
	Forward Lookregulations management
	Cabinet Committee Papersmanagement and distribution of Cabinet Committee papers
	e-RMelectronic records management
	CMScase management system
	E-Payfactpayroll administration
	Cross Government Exercisecrisis management
	Government Communications Networkmember database
	Government IT Professionmember database
	EPCISEmergency Planning College information system
	Central Application RepositoryCivil Service Pensions administration
	The Information on these databases which would be required to estimate the percentages of data inaccuracies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	My Department takes all appropriate measures to ensure the quality of data under its control.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aerials: Planning Permission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will amend planning regulations to require Network Rail telecommunications masts to receive planning permission.

Ruth Kelly: There are no current plans to review the permitted development rights of railway undertakers.

Audit Commission: Accessible Housing

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with the Audit Commission on how it evaluates the provision of accessible housing in inspections.

Angela Smith: The Audit Commission has agreed that as part of the Supporting People inspections it will look at the delivery mechanism of providing support for accessible housing.

Bath Spa Project

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) original budget was and  (b) current expected outturn is for the Bath Spa project; what proportion of the budget has been provided from Millennium Commission funding; what assessment she has made of the cost-effectiveness of the use of public funds on the project; who will be responsible for meeting any budget overspend; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	The Millennium Commission (now succeeded by the Big Lottery Fund) awarded a grant of 6,778, 884 in November 1997 for the Bath Spa project, which had an original budget of 13,557,768. In April 1999, budgeted costs rose to 18, 250,000, and the Millennium Commission grant was increased by 1 million to 7,778,884. The final grant payment was released at the end of 2006, with the cost of the main project (as at August 2006) rising to 33,339,955.
	The Big Lottery Fund is very pleased with the completed Revitalising Bath Spa project which is as a wonderful addition to Bath's architecture and one which provides an excellent new facility.

Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration her Department gave to the application on behalf of the Cornish for inclusion in the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Meg Munn: The United Kingdom ratified the Framework Convention on the understanding that it would be applied with reference to racial groups within the meaning of Section 3(1) of the Race Relations Act 1976, which is to say any groups defined by colour, race, nationality or national or ethnic origins. For the purposes of the Framework Convention it would of course also be necessary for the group to be a minority in the UK.
	Since the United Kingdom Government ratified the Framework Convention, a number of Cornish organisations and individuals have made representations to the Government arguing that the Cornish should be considered within the scope of the Framework Convention's application in the United Kingdom. The Government therefore included Cornish organisations in its consultation prior to the preparation of this 2(nd) report under the Framework Convention. It also circulated the draft report to a number of Cornish organisations and individuals which had approached the Government on the issue since then. A number of these organisations and individuals submitted comments on the draft report. The Government have considered the arguments put forward for the inclusion, but has not been convinced that a move away from the definition of racial group in Section 3(1) of the Race Relations Act 1976 can be justified. The Government consider that the UK's enormous diversity, embracing individuals of many different (and sometimes multiple) ethnic, national, cultural and faith identities is a matter for celebration and a source of national strength. The Government are very much aware of the strength of feeling about Cornwall's separate identity and distinctiveness. The fact that some groups may not meet the definition of racial group from the Race Relations Act 1976 has not been a barrier to the UK's many communities being able to maintain and celebrate their distinct identities.

Council Tax: Second Homes

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities in England impose council tax on second homes; at what rate each authority has set the council tax; and for what purposes they have used the additional revenue generated.

Phil Woolas: All local authorities in England levy council tax on second homes, although many have used the discretionary powers contained in the Local Government Act 2003 to reduce the discount on second homes below 50 per cent.
	A table listing authorities in England and the discount they grant second homes has been placed in the Library of the House. The data are as at 18 September 2006 and are reported by billing authorities to Communities and Local Government on CTB Supplementary forms.
	It is for local authorities to determine how any additional revenue generated through a reduction in the second homes discount should be spent in the light of local priorities. The Department does not collect this information.

Council Tax: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2006,  Official Report, column 529W, on council tax, what steps her Department and its agencies are taking to facilitate data-sharing between local authorities and the Valuation Office Agency.

Phil Woolas: The chief executive of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) wrote to his counterparts in each billing authority on 18 July 2006.

Councillors: Age

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average age of councillors was in England in  (a) 1986,  (b) 1996 and  (c) 2006.

Phil Woolas: The average age of councillors in England rose from 55.4 in 1997 to 58.3 in 2006 (see the following table). A figure for 1997 has been included in the absence of an estimate for 1996. No equivalent figure is available for 1986.
	As an alternative, estimates of the percentage of councillors aged under 45 years are also provided. Here, a downward trend is evident, with 26 per cent. of councillors under 45 in 1985 (in England and Wales), 18.4 per cent. in 1997, and 13.5 per cent. in 2006.
	
		
			   1985  1997  2006 
			 Average age of councillors in England (years)  55.4 58.3 
			 Councillors under 45 years of age (percentage) (1)26 18.4 13.5 
			 (1) England and Wales.  Sources: 1. Widdicombe Committee, 1986. 2. 1997 Census of Local Authority Councillors, IDeA. 3. 2006 Census of Local Authority Councillors, IDeA. 
		
	
	A new Councillors Commission, announced on 8 February 2007, will consider the average age of councillors as part of its wider remit to consider barriers and incentives to becoming a councillor.

Disadvantaged: Somerset

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2006,  Official Report, columns 93-6W, on deprivation (Somerset), what the population is of each of the lower layer super output areas listed in the table; what the 10 most deprived lower layer super output areas are in  (a) England and  (b) the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 30 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 298-99W.

European Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what plans she has  (a) to complete and  (b) to publish the second UK compliance report under the European Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities;
	(2)  what the  (a) planned and  (b) actual timetable was for the publication of the report on UK compliance with the European Framework Convention was for the Protection of National Minorities.

Meg Munn: The UK's 2(nd) compliance report under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities has been completed and was transmitted to the Council of Europe in February 2007. The report sets out the important progress the UK has made towards honouring this commitment. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. The Council of Europe have also placed the report on their website (www.coe.int). The report was originally due for submission to the Council of Europe in May 2004.

Fire Services: Radio

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations she has received on the business case for the Fire Control Project; if she will place copies of such representations in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Two versions of the FiReControl business case have been published since January 2005, the most recent in October 2006. Both versions of the business case have been presented to stakeholder groups at numerous seminars, workshops and meetings. Following the publication of the business case in October 2006, one letter was received from the project board in the South West region. This has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	A further updated version of the business case will be published following the award of the infrastructure services contract.

Gaming Clubs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate her Department has made of the likely income to local authorities from Section 106 agreements as a result of obtaining an  (a) small,  (b) large and  (c) regional casino licence and subsequently allowing a casino development to go ahead.

Ruth Kelly: Communities and Local Government has made no estimate of the likely income to local authorities from section 106 agreements as a result of obtaining an  (a) small,  (b) large and  (c) regional casino licence and subsequently allowing a casino development, and has no plans to do so in the future. Section 106 agreements are negotiated between local authorities and developers to make acceptable development which would otherwise be unacceptable in planning terms.

Gender: Equal Opportunities

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department has a gender  (a) strategy and  (b) equality action plan in place.

Meg Munn: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The Department is leading the development of a more integrated approach across Government on equality to increase opportunities for men and women. It also leads on gender-related legislation and sponsors the Equal Opportunities Commission and Women's National Commission. It is measuring improvements in gender equality across Government against public service agreement targets, and is taking forward the Discrimination Law Review, looking at the whole of discrimination law, leading to a Single Equality Act.
	The Department is preparing and publishing a Gender Equality Scheme which will include an action plan setting out how Communities and Local Government will fulfil the general and specific duties set out in the Equality Act 2006 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) Order 2006 (No. 2930). The scheme will set out the Department's gender equality objectives, and the actions it intends to take in the next three years to reduce gender inequality. The scheme will be published by 30 April 2007.
	In preparing the scheme, the Department has consulted employees, stakeholders and trade unions, and has taken into account the views expressed by consultees.
	In order to ensure that the actions set out in the scheme are put into practice, the Department has put in place measures to ensure regular review of the scheme and to drive progress in implementing the actions.

Havering Borough Council: Standards

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the London Borough of Havering Council met the 2.5 per cent. efficiency target for 2006.

Phil Woolas: The London borough of Havering did meet their efficiency target for 2005-06. The council had a target to achieve 4.6 million by the end of the Financial Year, and in their 2005-06 Backward Look efficiency statement, they reported that 10.2 million had actually been achieved. Their efficiency statement can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=l503018

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the laying and ratification of revised secondary legislation on Home Information Packs.

Ruth Kelly: We intend to lay the amended Home Information Pack Regulations on 29 March in time for the introduction of the compulsory scheme on 1 June 2007.

Housing: Design for Manufacture Competition

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what she expects the purchase price to be of the homes built under the Design for Manufacture competition at the Renny Lodge site in Newport Pagnell referred to in her predecessor's Department's news release of 3 November 2005.

Yvette Cooper: The 10 sites in the Design for Manufacture competition have been brought forward with the aim of producing mixed communities with homes occupied under a variety of tenures. Some of the homes built through the competition will be for social rent, some will be for sale on a shared equity or shared ownership basis, including Homebuy and the First Time Buyers Initiative (FTBI), and some will be available for outright sale on the open market.
	The competition challenged the homebuilding industry to build high quality, well-designed two bedroom homes, with an internal floor area of 76.5m(2), for a construction cost of 60,000. All sites will include homes built within these parameters, with the remainder made up of larger and smaller units built at an equivalent cost-efficiency.
	All sites will include a proportion of affordable housing. This includes social rent and different kinds of shared ownership. The price of the units for sale reflects the land value, the local market and the equity share as well as the construction cost.
	A Renny Lodge, in Newport Pagnell, a total of 68 homes will be built, 54 of which will be affordable. Of these, 33 will be available under the FTBI. The remaining 21 will be made available to the RSL, 14 of which will be available through the Homebuy scheme, three at a reduced market sale and four for social rent.
	For those homes available under the Homebuy shared ownership arrangements a 30 per cent. equity stake in a two bedroom home will be made available for an expected price of between 42,000 and 46,000.
	The FTBI homes will typically be available at equity stakes from 50 per cent. starting at around 71,500 for a one bedroom flat.
	Two bedroom homes available for sale on the open market have been reserved from 140,000.

Housing: West Midlands

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) demographic data and  (b) assumptions were used to inform her Department's estimate of the number of houses needed in the revision to the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The West Midlands Regional Assembly has drawn up the consultation options for housing numbers for the revision to the Regional Spatial Strategy. In line with the requirements of PPS3: Housing, the Assembly has to take into account the Government's latest published household projections in determining the level of housing provision. The Assembly has also made assumptions relating to the demolition and replacement of obsolete housing stock across the region, and made an allowance for vacancy rates in new build properties. These will be tested by independent inspectors during the Examination in Public of the Regional Spatial Strategy later next year.

Parliamentary Questions

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government why she was not able to answer question 112258, on the Design for Manufacture competition, substantively on the day named for answer.

Yvette Cooper: I have now provided a substantive answer to question 112258.

Race Relations Act 1976

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether  (a) Welsh and  (b) Irish people meet the definition of racial groups under the Race Relations Act 1976; and what definition her Department uses of the term (i) racial and (ii) ethnic.

Phil Woolas: Section 3(1) of the Race Relations Act 1976 states that racial group means
	a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins...
	The determination of whether a particular group meets this definition is ultimately a matter for the courts, rather than the Government. However, our understanding is that the Welsh and Irish do meet the definition of racial group under the Race Relations Act. Outside the context of the Race Relations Act this Department is not prescriptive in its everyday use of the terms racial and ethnic.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Electoral Registration

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures her Department is taking to encourage the registration of electors.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 introduced a range of provisions to help increase registration rates. These included:
	a duty for Electoral Registration Officer to undertake all necessary steps to maintain the electoral register;
	a duty to encourage participation in the electoral process; and
	allowing electors to register up to 11 days before an election.
	I am pleased to say that figures recently released by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of registered electors in the UK has increased by just over 370,000.

Electoral Registration

Brian Iddon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many eligible voters are estimated to be missing from the electoral register in Bolton, South-East constituency.

Bridget Prentice: We are not able to collect reliable statistics on under-registration. However, it is possible to estimate the number of people not registered in Bolton local authority at 8,000. However, this statistic is misleading, as it does not discount residents who are not eligible to vote.
	Recent ONS statistics indicate that the number of registered people in Bolton local authority has risen by 2 per cent. between December 2005 and December 2006. This equates to an additional 4,354 people on the register this year.
	The Electoral Commission estimates that 3.5 million people who are eligible to vote were missing from the register across England and Wales in 2000.

Magistrates Courts

Ann Winterton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the funding of magistrates courts.

Harriet Harman: The Department has received its settlement from the Treasury in December for comprehensive spending review period (CSR07) covering financial years 2008-09 to 2010-11. The funding for financial tear 2007-08 for the magistrates courts will be in context of the Department's commitment to ensuring an efficient modern service and protecting front line operations. The same principle should apply to the CSR07 period.

Duchy of Cornwall

Andrew George: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the constitutional status of  (a) the Duchy of Cornwall,  (b) Cornwall and  (c) the Isles of Scilly.

Harriet Harman: The Duchy of Cornwall is a private estate that funds the public, charitable and private activities of the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Prince Harry.
	Cornwall is as an administrative county of England, which is subject to UK legislation. The county elects MPs to the UK Parliament and has always been an integral part of the Union.
	Similarly, the Isles of Scilly are represented in Parliament as part of the St. Ives constituency. The Government do not intend to change the legal position of the Duchy nor the constitutional position of Cornwall.

Rape Victims

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made in her policy of providing legal advice to rape victims; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Victims' Advocate Scheme which applies to relatives of homicide victims is currently being piloted in five Crown courts. The scheme is being independently evaluated and no decisions will be taken about its future until it has been assessed. Over the past three years we have invested around 7 million in services for victims of sexual violence, including piloting independent sexual violence advisers to provide non-legal advocacy and support to victims.

Coroners Service

Sally Keeble: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proposals she has to modernise the Coroners Service.

Harriet Harman: We published a draft Bill on reform of the coroner system in June 2006. The Bill will improve the way that the system serves public interest and meets bereaved families' concerns. The Bill will also introduce national standards and leadership and strengthen coroners work by the introduction of improved powers of investigation and a transparent appointments system.

Electoral Fraud

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what further mechanisms she plans to put in place to prevent fraud in the electoral process.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have taken significant steps in recent years to tighten up the security of the electoral process, and assist the police and prosecutors in tackling electoral fraud. These measures are primarily established by the Electoral Administration Act 2006 and associated secondary legislation.
	We will wish to consider the effectiveness of these new measures in light of the experience of them at the May 2007 elections, and whether further measures are necessary.

Postal Votes

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what mechanisms are in place to verify the legitimacy of postal votes.

Bridget Prentice: We are introducing a range of new measures at the May 2007 local elections that are designed to strengthen the security of postal voting. These build on the measures successfully introduced in May 2006.
	Of key importance, is the introduction of personal identifiers for postal voters which will help to ensure that postal voting is safe and secure.

Abu Qatada

William Cash: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) full and  (b) summary judgment of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in the case of Abu Qatada; what precedents there are for different versions of such judgments to be produced; what the (i) security classification and (ii) status of each version is; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: A copy of the open decision made publicly available by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in the appeal of Omar Othman (aka Abu Qatada) will be placed, as with all SIAC open decisions, in the House Library. All SIAC decisions are publicly available on the SIAC outcomes database which makes copies of all of SIAC's open decisions and is hosted on Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS) website.
	Rule 4 of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Procedure) Rules 2003 (the 2003 Rules) provides that SIAC has a general duty when exercising any of its functions to secure that information is not disclosed contrary to the interests of national security, the international relations of the United Kingdom, the detection and prevention of crime, or in any other circumstances where disclosure is likely to harm the public interest.
	Rule 47 of the 2003 Rules provides that the Commission must produce a written decision to the parties giving reasons for its decision to the extent that it is possible to do so without disclosing information contrary to the public interest. Where the determination does not contain the full reasons for the decision the Commission must serve on the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and the Special Advocate appointed to represent the appellant, a separate determination including the full reasons.

Department: Equal Opportunities

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether her Department has  (a) a gender strategy and  (b) a gender equality action plan in place.

Vera Baird: The DCA is committed to mainstreaming gender equality and putting this at the heart of its' main functions.
	DCA will publish its gender equality scheme (GES), on 30 April 2007. The scheme will set out our strategy for addressing gender issues and will include a gender equality action plan.
	In publishing the GES, the DCA is following the requirements of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authorities) (Statutory Duties) Order 2006 (No. 2930), which comes into force on 6 April 2007.
	The Department is hosting a round table discussion with representatives from different diversity strands to consider the benefits of developing a single equality plan to encompass all equality strands including gender, disability, race, age, religion and sexual orientation. DCA also has a number of supportive networks including the Women's Issues Network.

Departments: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what databases are controlled by her Department and its agencies; and what percentage of the data in each database she estimates is inaccurate or out of date.

Vera Baird: The Department's key database systems are as follows:
	CaseMan
	FamilyMan
	e-Diary
	Money Claim On Line
	Crest
	Juror
	Juror Summoning Bureau
	eXchanging Hearing Information By Internet Technology
	ProbateMan
	ARIA (Asylum and Immigration system)
	Service Upgrade Project (pilot)
	Funds Accounting System
	Receivership Accounting System
	Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal system
	Generic Appeals Processing System 2
	Mental Health Tribunal
	ETHOS (Employment Tribunal system)
	CLAIMS (Criminal Injuries and Compensation Panel system)
	MERIS (Public Guardianship system)
	ORACLE financials (General Ledger, Supplier database, Accounts Payable,
	Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets)
	Local Fees database
	CHRIMSON (HR system)
	Occupational Health, Counselling and Screening Services
	Business Management System
	Magistrates Courts databases
	Libra application
	Trust Accounting and Banking System
	BACCHUS (Bankruptcy case management system)
	Centralised Attachment of Earnings
	County Court Bulk Centre
	Commercial Court
	Electronic Records Management
	Judicial Database
	Management Information System
	Tax Tribunal Remuneration
	Decree Absolute System
	Parental Responsibility
	Supreme Court Costs Office System
	Wardship System
	Crown Office Information Network System
	Life Imprisonment Minimum Term
	Payment of Legal Aid Remuneration
	Case Recording System
	RECAP (Civil Appeals Case Management)
	CASREC (Public Guardian Office Case Recording)
	CACTUS (Criminal Appeals Case Recording)
	As well as this list, other smaller database systems support local business areas. Details of these systems are not held centrally.
	Central records on the accuracy of these databases are not kept and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence Courts

Julie Morgan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of specialist domestic violence courts.

Harriet Harman: Following the 2005 evaluation of the specialist domestic violence courts (SDVC) pilot sites at Caerphilly and Croydon the SDVC programme was established. In April 2006, 25 SDVCs were accredited and by April 2007 the number of SDVCs will increase to 64 sites. Evaluations of the SDVCs are ongoing.

Freedom of Information

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to revise the Explanatory Notes on the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) published on 8 January 2001 to take account of  (a) decisions of the Information Commissioner and  (b) proposals for new regulations on FOI fees; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: It is not practice to amend Explanatory Notes to an Act.
	Officials in my Department will continue to review and update guidance to support the Act in light of experience and changes since the Act came into force.

Juries

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent on summoning people to do jury service who did not subsequently serve on a jury in each of the last five years.

Harriet Harman: The Jury Central Summoning Bureau (JCSB) have summoned all jurors in England and Wales since 2001. They deal with all summons replies and everything to do with jurors prior to attending court. The entire budget of the JCSB is therefore spent on summoning jurors and so we can estimate the amount spent on summoning jurors who do not serve by proportioning the whole JCSB budget by the percentage who do not serve. On that basis the total spent on summoning jurors who did not serve in each of the last five years was:
	
		
			
			 2001-02 528,000 
			 2002-03 507,000 
			 2003-04 525,000 
			 2004-05 541,000 
			 2005-06 623,000 
		
	
	Those who do not serve as jurors fall into two broad categories: those who are excused or disqualified; and those who do not respond to their jury summons.

Legal Aid: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which advice agencies in London were in receipt of legal aid in the last two years; how much each received in each year; how much each is expected to be allocated under new arrangements; what the percentage difference is in each case between the most recent amount received and the amount expected to be allocated under the new arrangements; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The statistics provided in the following table refer to work conducted by contracted suppliers only.
	New arrangements for funding will bring the allocation of funds in the next two years closer to estimates of need. Amounts received by not for profit agencies under these arrangements will depend on their ability to deliver advice at competitive rates.
	
		
			   
			  London NFPs  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Brixton Advice Centre 130,439 130,439 
			 Immigration Advisory Service 368,629 468,429 
			 Barking and Dagenham CAB 0 43,729 
			 Battersea Law Centre 319,388 336,967 
			 Afro-Asian Advisory Service 66,961 66,800 
			 Blackfriars Advice Centre 181,256 208,808 
			 Bermondsey CAB 203,034 200,057 
			 Kilburn CAB 127,214 127,614 
			 Catford CAB 83,647 164,341 
			 Hackney CAB (Mare Street) 66,625 66,625 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham CAB 53,266 63,452 
			 Haringey CAB 147,282 123,303 
			 Kensington CAB 133,792 180,822 
			 Leytonstone CAB 197,824 211,417 
			 Newham CAB 228,699 413,364 
			 Paddington CAB 113,707 25,505 
			 Pimlico CAB 64,888 16,222 
			 Roehampton CAB 93,285 136,238 
			 Westminster Citizens Advice 225,868 366,142 
			 Sydenham CAB 64,888 64,888 
			 CABThornton Heath 66,720 67,720 
			 Tooting and Balham CAB 67,634 67,634 
			 Tower Hamlets East CAB 163,870 180,042 
			 Islington CAB 127,059 47,772 
			 Walthamstow CAB 125,441 121,946 
			 CABWhitechapel 96,084 142,347 
			 Brent CAB 175,905 259,004 
			 Cambridge House and Talbot 130,409 178,093 
			 Camden Community Law Centre 265,205 275,058 
			 Camden Tribunal Rights Unit 62,092 73,182 
			 Central London Law Centre 93,802 107,856 
			 Centre 70 Advice 143,721 142,196 
			 CHAS CL 67,511 67,511 
			 Chinese Information and Advice Centre 133,393 139,773 
			 Clapham Community Project 68,582 68,582 
			 Community Links 199,006 240,069 
			 DIAL Waltham Forest 64,760 64,760 
			 Disability in Camden 65,936 65,936 
			 Disability Law Service 79,201 68,730 
			 Fulham Legal Advice Centre 57,826 57,826 
			 Greenwich Community Law Centre 76,133 75,366 
			 Greenwich Housing Rights 33,904 30,433 
			 Hackney Community Law Centre 337,548 333,357 
			 Hackney Consumer Advice Centre 196,075 196,075 
			 Hounslow Law Centre 93,243 107,902 
			 Island Advice Centre 149,781 96,265 
			 LASA Appeals Team 134,116 141,039 
			 Law for AllActon Law Shop 1,194,654 1,364,531 
			 Lewisham Money Advice Centre 128,777 128,777 
			 Mary Ward Legal Centre 438,652 658,137 
			 Migrants Resource Centre 66,557 66,557 
			 Islington Law Centre 263,053 285,646 
			 North Kensington Law Centre 536,117 525,364 
			 Lewisham Law Centre Ltd. 242,126 218,182 
			 Nucleus 63,364 104,685 
			 Paddington Law Centre 215,795 194,480 
			 Plumstead Community Law Centre 178,600 138,386 
			 Southwark Law Centre 202,432 200,447 
			 Springfield Advice and Law Centre 160,224 98,028 
			 Threshold Hammersmith 67,396 67,396 
			 Threshold Wandsworth 130,500 144,001 
			 Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre 216,307 179,500 
			 Wandsworth Money Advice Service 66,871 66,871 
			 World's End Neighbourhood Advice Centre 126,280 108,040 
			 Camden Community Law Centre 40,815 0 
			 Refugee Advice Centre 38,631 38,631 
			 Merton Citizens Advice Bureaux Ltd. 101,755 129,990 
			 Carshalton and Wallington CAB 141,774 201,538 
			 Thamesmead Law Centre 113,734 134,695 
			 Barnet Law Service 104,130 64,853 
			 Wandsworth and Merton Law Centre 167,436 245,568 
			 Asylum Aid 142,909 67,613 
			 Kingston CABX Service 79,257 79,257 
			 Brent Private Tenants'rights Group 39,679 35,600 
			 Bromley Citizens Advice Specialist Servs 49,291 130,417 
			 Islington People's Rights 0 0 
			 Tamil Welfare Association (Newham) UK 33,981 77,178 
			 Oxford House in Bethnal Green 92,545 83,647 
			 Streetwise Community Law Centre Ltd. 85,934 177,818 
			 Tower Hamlets Law Centre 474,634 515,208 
			 Hillingdon Law Centre 155,902 104,207 
			 Enfield Law Centre 83,466 92,706 
			 Southwark Race and Equalities Council 28,103 97,248 
			 ShelterLondon Housing Aid Services 0 49,127 
			 Brent Private Tenants Right Group 39,489 35,600 
			 Law for All (Acton Office) 255,854 204,305 
			 Battersea CAB 33,486 33,486 
			 Dalston Citzens Advice Bureau 43,178 31,319 
			 Haringey Law Centre 72,674 74,485 
			 Kingston and Richmond Law Centre 43,694 99,796 
			 Croydon and Sutton Law Centre 15,471 110,063 
			 Lambeth Law Centre 0 199,518 
			 Havering CAB 0 33,904 
			 Island Advice 0 67,682 
			 Sub-total 12,921,176 14,596,125 
			 Redbridge Refugee Forum 0 34,132 
			 Refugee Legal Centre (London Region) 2,485,842 2,584,205 
			 Immigration Advisory Service (Hounslow) 821,737 493,480 
			 Immigration Advisory Service (London) 2,434,144 -338,966 
			 Refugee Legal Centre (London Region) 2,031,835 477,277 
			 Immigration Advisory Service 950,650 619,623 
			 Total 21,645,383 18,465,876

Legal Aid: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much legal aid was paid to advice agencies in London in each of the last three years; what the anticipated amount will be in each of the next two years; what the percentage difference is between the two amounts; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: Expenditure on Not for Profit organisations in London over the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			   Expenditure () 
			 2003-04 13,380,248 
			 2004-05 21,645,383 
			 2005-06 18,465,876 
		
	
	The reduction in expenditure in 2005-06 reflects some substantial changes to large contracts as part of a restructuring of immigration supply. Excluding such contracts, expenditure increased from 12,921,176 in 2004-05 to 14,596,125 in 2005-06.
	New arrangements for funding will bring the allocation of funds in the next two years closer to estimates of need.

Legal Aid: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many clients received legal advice from voluntary sector advice organisations paid for by legal aid in London in each of the last three years; what estimate she has made of the likely change in this number as a result of the planned legal aid changes; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The Legal Services Commission does not keep records of the number of clients who receive legal aid. It does however record the number of New Matter Starts (NMS) or individual instances of legal help.
	For the last three years the number of New Matter Starts delivered by Not for Profit agencies was as follows:
	
		
			   Number of New Matter Starts 
			 2003-04 17,999 
			 2004-05 24,822 
			 2005-06 31,791 
		
	
	The number of matter starts delivered by Not for Profit agencies in London in future years will depend on their ability to deliver increased numbers at competitive rates. Over the last two years their performance increased significantly as the figures above show, with productivity increasing by 19 per cent. over the last year.

Legal Aid: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely geographical distribution of the availability of legal advice in London from  (a) voluntary agencies and  (b) the private sector as the consequence of planned legal aid changes; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: In civil legal aid the Legal Services Commission expects the provision of advice by not for profit providers and the private sector in London to adapt so that areas where supply is currently strong will continue while areas with less provision will improve. Providers will be expected to manage what they deliver effectively in order to maximise the levels of advice delivered in categories and areas where demand is greatest.

Legal Aid: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what effect she expects the planned legal aid changes to have on the availability in London of  (a) advice agencies and  (b) private sector legal advice in relation to (i) welfare rights, (ii) family law and (iii) immigration and asylum; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: Regulatory impact assessment (RIA) for the Command paper Legal Aid: the Way Ahead was published in December 2006. A revised draft RIA was published alongside the family fee schemes consultation on 1 March 2007. These contain details of the potential impact of the legal aid changes on both not for profit and private sector providers in London for social welfare law and family law respectively. An impact assessment on the immigration and asylum scheme will be published shortly. The regulatory impact assessment analysis is based around historic behaviour and under a fixed fee scheme we would expect provider behaviour to change in order to maximise efficiency and prepare for future competition.

Legal Aid: Reform

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  if she will make available copies of the representations she has received on her planned changes to the legal aid system;
	(2)  how many representations she has received  (a) in support and  (b) against her planned changes in legal aid from (i) voluntary groups and advice agencies, (ii) private sector law firms and (iii) others; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: I held national meetings last summer to hear practitioners' views on our proposals. We received a total of 2,372 written responses to the consultation Legal Aid: a sustainable future, and I have also received correspondence from MPs and their constituents on the matter. The majority of consultees expressed a range of views on different aspects of the reforms: 175 from Not-for-Profit providers; 1,495 from solicitor providers; 469 from barristers; and 470 from others as detailed in the Legal Aid: a sustainable futureanalysis of responses. Individual responses can be provided on request.

Legal Aid: Reform

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether she carried out a race equality impact assessment of planned legal aid changes; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: Draft and final regulatory impact assessments, including race equality impact assessments, have beenand will continue to bepublished alongside schemes for all legal aid reforms.

Legal Aid: Reform

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what effect on costs to the public purse she expects to arise from the planned legal aid changes in  (a) London and  (b) England; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The savings from the reform package will amount to over 100 million per annum by 2009-10. Savings will be made in criminal legal aid while civil and family expenditure is expected to continue to grow. This applies to England and Wales. No separate assessment has been made for London.

Polling Stations

Anthony Steen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what provisions there are for a parish council to challenge a returning officer's decision on the appropriate location of a polling station for  (a) district and  (b) general elections; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: There is no statutory provision for challenging the decision of a returning officer on the appropriate location of a polling station for a district council election.
	Section 18D of the Representation of the People Act 1983 allows a parish council to challenge a local authority's decision on the location of a polling place within a parliamentary constituency following a statutory review, by making a representation to the Electoral Commission.

Public Records: Disclosure of Information

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will publish in full all documentation referring to the Shrewsbury Two which is held in the Public Record Office, including those papers, and parts of papers, retained under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act 1958.

Vera Baird: Records identified and held by The National Archives relating to the Shrewsbury Two are open and available to researchers. A small number of papers have been retained under section 3(4) of the Public Records Act and are held with the department of origin and not at The National Archives.

Witnesses: Children

Sally Keeble: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether barristers questioning children and young people aged under 18 years are required to have formal child protection training.

Bridget Prentice: The Bar Council, which is responsible for the training of barristers, does not impose any requirements on barristers to undertake formal child protection training.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoption

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which inspection regimes monitor local authorities' activities regarding adoption.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Commission for Social Care Inspection is required to inspect local authorities' adoption services in England, in line with the regulatory framework set by Government. All local authorities' adoption services must be inspected a minimum of at least once every three years. This function transfers to the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills on 1 April 2007.

Adoption

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets have been set for local authorities by central Government regarding adoption; and when each target was introduced.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Government have set a number of targets on adoption, in particular to increase the numbers of looked after children who are adopted from care.
	The following target was included in the Department of Health publication Improvement, Expansion and Reform: The Next Three Years (Priorities and Planning Framework 2003-2006):
	Maintain current levels of adoption placement stability (as measured by the proportion of placements for adoption ending with the making of an adoption order) so that quality is not compromised whilst increasing the use of adoption as follows:
	By 2004-05 increase by 40 per cent. the number of looked after children who are adopted, and aim to exceed this by achieving, if possible, a 50 per cent. increase by 2006, up from 2,700 in 1999-2000. All councils will bring their practice up to the current level of the best performers.
	By 2004-05 increase to 95 per cent. the proportion of looked after children placed for adoption within 12 months of the decision that adoption is in the child's best interests, up from 81 per cent. in 2000-01, and maintain this level (95 per cent.) up to 2006, by locally applying the timescales in the National Adoption Standards, taking account of the individual child's needs.
	The period during which this target operated came to an end in March 2006.
	In addition, in 2004, the following Department for Education and Skills Public Service Agreement target was introduced:
	To narrow the gap in educational achievement between looked after children and their peers, and improve their educational support and the stability of their lives, so that by 2008, 80 per cent. of children under 16 who have been looked after for 2.5 or more years will have been living in the same placement for at least two years, or are placed for adoption.
	No individual targets have been set by central Government for local authorities, though some authorities have chosen to develop targets as part of the local area agreement/local public service agreement process. Individual local area agreements are published by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA).

Building for Skills

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on the design and printing of the pack Building for Skills.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 23 February 2007
	The design, print and distribution of the Building for Skills pack cost the Learning and Skills Council 23,708. The pack included the RIBA/LSC Further Education Awards 2006 document, and the Building for Skills: A prospectus for the Learning and Skills Council's capital programme document.
	The Awards document formally recognises design excellence and celebrates the inspirational buildings that are now starting to characterise the further education sector. The prospectusjointly produced by the Department and the Learning and Skills Councilsets out how the Learning and Skills Council's capital programme will underpin the Government's 14-19 and skills reform agendas by investing up to 750 million annually by 2011 in modernising the college estate. The investment in FE capital has been shown to contribute to an increase in participation and success rates, thereby supporting and equipping learners with high-quality skills for productive, sustainable employment and personal fulfilment; and ensuring employers have the right skills for their business to succeed in a competitive global economy.

Children in Care: Missing Persons

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance is given to local authorities on looked after children missing from care, specifying in each case the  (a) document,  (b) paragraph and  (c) line references; and whether each has statutory status.

Parmjit Dhanda: Details about the regulations and guidance setting out how local authorities and care providers should respond to children missing from their care are given in the table.
	
		
			  Date  Regulation/Guidance  Reference  Status 
			 April 2002 Children's Homes Regulations 2001 Regulation 16(4)(b) The registered provider shall prepare and implement as requireda procedure to be followed when any child accommodated in a children's home is absent without permission. Statutory Requirement 
			 
			 April 2002 The Fostering Service Regulations 2002 Regulation 13(3) The fostering service provider shall prepare and implement a written procedure to be followed if a child is absent from a foster parent's home without permission. Statutory Requirement 
			 
			 April 2002 Children's Homes National Minimum Standards Standard 19 sets out the processes that need to covered in each home's written policy and guidance to prevent children from going missing, to manage missing children from care incidents and to respond appropriately when missing children are returned to their care. National Minimum Standards are non-statutorybut must be taken into account by the appropriate regulator (currently the Commission for Social Care Inspection) in its assessment as to whether care providers are complying with statutory regulations, listed above. 
			 
			 April 2002 Fostering Services National Minimum Standards Standard 9.8 specifies thatthe fostering service makes sure that the foster care has a clear written procedure for use if the foster child is missing from home. National Minimum Standards are non-statutorybut must be taken into account by the appropriate regulator (currently the Commission for Social Care Inspection) in its assessment as to whether care providers are complying with statutory regulations, listed above. 
			 
			 November 2002 Children Missing from Care and HomeA Guide to Good Practice Sections 1 to 7 of this guidance from pages 5 to 19 set out the issues to be considered and the processes to be followed so that local authorities respond effectively to children who go missing from their care placement. This guidance and its related Circular LAC (2002) 17, were issued under section 7 of the Local Authority Services Act 1970 which means that, except in exceptional circumstances councils must follow its advice. 
			 
			 April 2006 Working Together to Safeguard Children Paragraph 11.65 on pages 207-08 specifies thatthe various agencies are responsible for the care of looked-after children should understand their respective roles (when children go missing from care). These should be set out in standard protocols describing arrangements for managing missing person's investigations developed by the local police force. Where there is the possibility that this behaviour is a result of child protection concerns, the responsible local authority (or others concerned for the child) must follow its procedures to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the area where the child is living. This information was issued as non-statutory practice guidance to assist relevant agencies to manage individual cases and safeguard and promote the welfare of children in circumstances where young people may be particularly vulnerable.

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether his Department has  (a) a gender strategy and  (b) a gender equality action plan in place.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 2 March 2007
	The Department for Education and Skills is taking steps to integrate gender equality into all its policies and programmes in line with the gender duty, and is committed to eliminating unfair discrimination on the grounds of gender.
	We have already started to engage with our policy and programme colleagues and partners by jointly hosting awareness seminars on the gender duty led by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) and a:gender, the civil service wide network for transsexual people.
	The gender equality scheme, which has to be published by the end of April 2007, will combine a DfES narrative on our overall planning as an employer and sector leader, alongside policy and programme action plans. Those policies and programmes will have the gender duty in mind when promoting gender equality and ensuring there is no discrimination. The gender equality scheme will then be reviewed every three years as a whole. The action plans will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Departments: Freedom of Information

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of monitoring the time spent processing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the purposes of the proposed fees regulations.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Redcar (Vera Baird).

Education: Finance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his written statement of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 22WS, on the winter supplementary estimate 2006-07, whether he plans to make a statement on the spring supplementary estimate 2006-07.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement issued on 20 February,  Official Report, column 22WS.

English Language

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that those with limited English language skills who are claiming tax credit will be supported in making an application for free remission under proposed new arrangements for English as a second or other language provision.

Phil Hope: All those applying for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course will be eligible for full fee remission if they are in receipt of jobseekers allowance or an income related benefit including working tax credit.
	They will be supported in their applications by their local college or training provider. The local learning and skills council will be able to provide details of local provision.
	A race equality impact assessment is currently being conducted that considers further the impact of proposed changes to eligibility for ESOL courses and this will be published shortly.

English Language

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what projections he has made of the percentage of students who will receive full fee remission for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses following the introduction of new arrangements in August 2007.

Phil Hope: holding answer 1 March 2007
	Under the new arrangements, all those applying for an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course will be eligible for full fee remission if they are in receipt of jobseekers' allowance or an income related benefit including working tax credit.
	It is not possible to accurately project the percentages of students who will receive full fee remission for ESOL as this information has not previously been collected.
	A race equality impact assessment is currently being conducted that considers further the impact of proposed changes to eligibility for ESOL courses and this will be published shortly.

Educational Attainment

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of people aged 19 achieved  (a) level 2 by (i) the age of 16 and (ii) the age of 19 and  (b) level 3 by the age of 19 in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Figures reporting attainment by age 19 are only available on the current basis of measurement, using matched administrative data, from 2004 onwards. The latest Statistical First Release (SFR) on attainment by age 19 was published in February 2007 (SFR 06/2007).
	Table 1 shows the proportion of people aged 19 that have achieved level 2 by 16, level 2 by 19, and level 3 by 19 each year since 2004.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Percentage 
			   2004  2005  2006 
			 Level 2 by 16(1) 49.2 50.3 52.2 
			 Level 2 by 19 66.3 69.3 71.4 
			 Level 3 by 19 42.1 45.6 46.8 
			 (1) Level 2 by 16 for those aged 19 in 2004, 2005 and 2006. E.g. 52.2 per cent. of those aged 19 in 2006 had reached level 2 by age 16in academic year 2002/03. 
		
	
	These figures for 16-year-olds differ from other published figures on the attainment of pupils aged 15 in schools and colleges (SFR 01/2007) because different denominators are used, there are differences in qualifications counted and matching means the numerators are not quite the same.
	Table 2 shows the proportion of pupils aged 15 in schools and colleges achieving a level 2 each year since 1997.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			   Proportion (percentage) 
			 1996/97 45.1 
			 1997/98 46.3 
			 1998/99 47.9 
			 1999/2000 49.2 
			 2000/01 50.0 
			 2001/02 51.6 
			 2002/03 52.9 
			 2003/04 53.7 
			 2004/05 56.3 
			 2005/06 58.5

Free School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his policy that people in receipt of working tax credit do not qualify for free school meals for their children; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Government's working tax credit provides additional financial support to all 'working families' that have low incomes. We believe that free school meals should be available to 'non-working' families, who we consider are most in need of this additional help.
	Children whose parents are in receipt of the following are entitled to receive free school meals:
	income support;
	income based job seekers allowance;
	support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
	child tax credit provided they are not entitled to working tax credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) that as of 6 April 2007 does not exceed 14,495;
	the guarantee element of state pension credit.
	Children who receive income support or income based jobseekers allowance in their own right are also eligible to receive free school meals.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils gained  (a) no GCSEs at grades A*-C,  (b) one GCSE at grades A*-C,  (c) two GCSEs at grades A*-C,  (d) three GCSEs at grades A*-C and  (e) four GCSEs at grades A*-C in each local authority in 2006.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Higher Education: EC Action

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish his Department's submission to the German EU Presidency on the creation of a compendium of good practice for higher education, as cited in Prospects for the EU in 2007, Cm 7024.

Bill Rammell: The Department has not made a submission to the German EU presidency on the creation of a compendium of good practice for higher education. I myself made the proposal for such a compendium during the Finnish presidency, at the Education Council on 14 November 2006, and the suggestion received support from a large number of other member states. A copy of the UK position paper on higher education reform, which includes a proposal to develop a compendium of good practice in modernising universities, follows this answer. This paper was tabled at the November Education Council.
	 UK Position Paper: Higher Education Reform 14 November 2006
	The UK welcomes the efforts the Commission and Presidency have made to take forward the EU's Higher Education (HE) reform agenda. The UK believes that the discussion in the Education Council on 14 November will provide critical momentum in the follow up to Heads of State and Government discussions at the Hampton Court summit and at the June European Council this year. The latter called for a follow up to the Commission's communication on the challenges ahead for universities and encourage the Member States to promote excellence and foster modernisation, restructuring and innovation in the higher education sector.
	The Commission's Communication on Modernising Universities highlights the challenges facing the European HE sector, whilst stressing that it is primarily for Member States and HE institutions to carry out reform. It is now for us, as Member States, to ensure that concrete reforms are taken forward to modernise our Higher Education systems. The approaches taken by different Member States will necessarily be predicated on varying national needs, systems and approaches to HE. However, it is clear that there are also many commonalities and therefore scope for Member States to share best practice and work together to discuss possible approaches.
	At the EU level, we need to work together to identify and disseminate good practice, for example on governance, funding and business/industry links. Good work is already underway in the peer learning clusters set up under the Education and Training 2010 work programme. The Member States involved in the Higher Education cluster have already started this process; peer learning activities in the UK and in Norway have demonstrated the value that European co-operation can add to Member States' own efforts.
	The UK is keen to ensure that all Member States are able to consider and learn from other countries' experiences of Higher Education reform, thus making the most of the opportunities made available by the Open Method of Co-ordination.
	In this context, the Council could provide a forum for sharing experiences and good practice, including those identified through the peer learning activities. To this end a compendium of good practice in modernising universities could be compiled, based on Member States' own experiences and possibly on experiences from elsewhere. This could be a useful aid to decision making and a lasting resource to help support Member States' ongoing reforms. The Council, with the support of the Commission, could set itself the challenge of developing such a compendium by the end of 2007.

Higher Education: Sunderland

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of children in  (a) Houghton and Washington, East constituency and  (b) Sunderland city council area progressed to higher education in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The latest available figures on participation in higher education by constituency were published by the Higher Education funding Council for England in January 2005 in Young Participation in England, which is available from their website at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_03/ This report shows participation rates for young people who enter higher education aged 18 or 19, disaggregated by constituency, for the years 1997 to 2000. The figures for Houghton and Washington, East, and the comparable figure for England, are shown in the table. HEFCE have not produced participation rates beyond 2000.
	
		
			  Young Participation Rate (YPR (A)) in Higher Education( 1)  for Year cohort aged 18 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000 
			 Cohort for Houghton and Washington East (2) 1,230 1,290 1,260 1,160 
			 Young Participation Rate (A) for Houghton and Washington, East 18 18 18 19 
			 Young Participation Rate (A) for England 29.2 28.8 29.2 29.9 
			 (1) Covers all students studying Higher Education Courses at UK Higher Education Institutions and other UK institutions, for example Further Education Colleges. (2) Cohorts are reported to the nearest 10. (3) Young Participation Rates for constituencies are reported to the nearest percentage.  Source:  Higher Education Funding Council for England. 
		
	
	The total number of entrants from Houghton and Washington, East for each year since 1997/98 are given in the table:
	
		
			  English domiciled entrants aged 18 to undergraduate courses at all UK Higher Education Institutions 
			   Total  Of which: 
			   English domiciled  Sunderland local authority area  Houghton and Washington, East constituency  Unknown local authority area 
			  Academic year 
			 1997/98 108,285 565 170 9,355 
			 1998/99 114,655 580 180 3,860 
			 1999/2000 114,940 565 160 1,640 
			 2000/01 117,430 590 190 1,370 
			 2001/02 123,695 645 190 1,350 
			 2002/03 125,720 635 175 2,470 
			 2003/04 129,375 705 225 665 
			 2004/05 131,840 685 190 570 
			 2005/06 146,330 780 230 785 
			  Notes:  Figures are on a DfES snapshot basis and are rounded to the nearest 5. Excludes the Open University. Unknown LA area covers English domiciled students who did not provide a valid postcode, from which local authority area and constituency are derived.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	The Department uses the higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) to assess progress on increasing first-time participation of English students aged 18-30 in higher education towards 50 per cent.: the latest provisional figure for 2004/05 is 42 per cent.. The HEIPR is not calculated at constituency level.

Language Courses

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the schools at which no pupils were taking a language course as referred to in paragraph 2.14 of the Languages Review Consultation report.

Jim Knight: The 25 schools are listed in the table.
	The following schools, Our Lady's Catholic High School and Thamesbridge College are now closed.
	
		
			  School  LA 
			 Stockland Green Technology College Birmingham 
			 St. Paul's Community Foundation School Birmingham 
			 Walsall Academy Walsall 
			 Campion Catholic High School Liverpool 
			 De La Salle Catholic High School Liverpool 
			 Our Lady's Catholic High School Liverpool 
			 The Ridings School Calderdale 
			 Dyke House Comprehensive School Hartlepool 
			 Ormesby School Middlesbrough 
			 Kingswood College of Arts Kingston upon Hull 
			 The Wye Valley School Buckinghamshire 
			 Da Vinci Community College Derby 
			 Fyndoune Community College Durham 
			 Durham Community Business College for Technology and Enterprise Durham 
			 King Richard Secondary School Portsmouth 
			 Mitchell High School Stoke on Trent 
			 The Brakenhale School Bracknell Forest 
			 Thamesbridge College Reading 
			 Bishops Park College Essex 
			 Furtherwick Park School Essex 
			 The Ockendon School Thurrock 
			 Skerton Community High School Lancashire 
			 The Morton School Cumbria 
			 The Castle Hills Community Arts College Lincolnshire 
			 Brymore School Somerset

Languages

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 696W, on GCSEs, if he will list the maintained mainstream schools where no pupils were entered for a GCSE in  (a) a modern foreign language,  (b) history and  (c) geography in 2006;
	(2)  how many 15-year-olds attended the maintained mainstream schools where no pupils were entered for a GCSE in  (a) a modern foreign language,  (b) history and  (c) geography in 2006.

Jim Knight: The following table lists the maintained mainstream schools where no pupils at the end of key stage 4 (KS4) were entered at GCSE in history and gives the number of pupils at the end of KS4 who attended these schools in 2006.
	
		
			  LA number  Estab number  LA name  School name  Number of pupils at end of KS4 
			 208 4322 Lambeth Stockwell Park High School 174 
			 211 4284 Tower Hamlets Bethnal Green Technology College 165 
			 304 5401 Brent Coplanda specialist science community college 229 
			 315 4057 Merton Tamworth Manor High School 107 
			 316 4034 Newham Eastlea Community School 197 
			 320 4063 Waltham Forest Heathcote School 156 
			 330 4334 Birmingham Al-Hijrah Secondary School 48 
			 330 5900 Birmingham St. Paul's Community Foundation School 11 
			 331 4039 Coventry Ernesford Grange Community Schoola specialist science college 200 
			 332 4117 Dudley The Hillcrest School and Community College 126 
			 335 4100 Walsall Darlaston Community Science College 206 
			 335 6905 Walsall Walsall Academy 54 
			 336 4115 Wolverhampton Deansfield High School 138 
			 340 4014 Knowsley Prescot School 177 
			 340 5400 Knowsley St. Thomas Becket Catholic High School 128 
			 341 5401 Liverpool Our Lady's Catholic High School 1 
			 343 4007 Sefton Ainsdale High School 2 
			 344 4017 Wirral Park High School 192 
			 352 4286 Manchester Newall Green High School 180 
			 355 6905 Salford Salford City Academy 101 
			 357 4025 Tameside Hyde Technology School and Hearing Impaired Resource Base 181 
			 357 5401 Tameside West Hill School 165 
			 358 4015 Trafford Lostock College 96 
			 370 4019 Barnsley The Elmhirst School 89 
			 373 4228 Sheffield Waltheof School 207 
			 380 4041 Bradford Belle Vue Girls' School 162 
			 391 4500 Newcastle upon Tyne All Saints College 188 
			 801 4038 Bristol, City of Withywood Community School 161 
			 801 4046 Bristol, City of Speedwell Technology College 204 
			 806 6905 Middlesbrough Unity City Academy 187 
			 808 4106 Stockton-on-Tees Blakeston Schoola community sports college 169 
			 812 4008 North East Lincolnshire Havelock School 130 
			 826 4085 Milton Keynes Sir Frank Markham Community School 291 
			 826 5400 Milton Keynes Stantonbury Campus 512 
			 830 4103 Derbyshire Frederick Gent School 174 
			 830 4195 Derbyshire Parkside Community School 113 
			 831 4608 Derby da Vinci Community College 91 
			 840 4180 Durham Sunnydale Community College for Maths and Computing 110 
			 845 4062 East Sussex Eastbourne Technology College 176 
			 846 4022 Brighton and Hove Falmer High School 138 
			 851 4615 Portsmouth St.Luke's C of E VA Secondary School 112 
			 856 4249 Leicester Hamilton Community College 208 
			 860 4066 Staffordshire Norton Canes High School 93 
			 871 4085 Slough Beechwood School 88 
			 879 4193 Plymouth Parkside Community College 50 
			 881 4002 Essex Bishops Park College 3 
			 881 5456 Essex Barstable School 173 
			 882 5434 Southend-on-Sea Belfairs High School 216 
			 886 4122 Kent Ellington School for Girls 87 
			 886 5419 Kent Angley Schoola sports college 182 
			 886 5421 Kent The Canterbury High School 183 
			 886 6906 Kent The Marlowe Academy 82 
			 889 4409 Blackburn with Darwen Queen's Park Technology College 2 
			 892 4460 Nottingham The River Leen School 149 
			 909 4304 Cumbria The Alfred Barrow School 91 
			 916 5413 Gloucestershire Central Technology College 93 
			 919 4029 Hertfordshire Adeyfield School 145 
			 925 4059 Lincolnshire The Mablethorpe Tennyson High School 89 
			 925 4067 Lincolnshire Queen Eleanor Technology College 104 
			 925 4609 Lincolnshire St. Clements College 207 
			 925 5419 Lincolnshire The Grantham Church (VA) High School 71 
			 925 5422 Lincolnshire St. Hugh's C of E Mathematics and Computing College 71 
			 928 5406 Northamptonshire Manor School and Sports College 117 
			 933 5401 Somerset Brymore School 54 
			 935 4600 Suffolk St. Benedict's Catholic School 141 
			 Total8,947 
		
	
	The following table lists the maintained mainstream schools where no pupils at the end of KS4 were entered at GCSE in geography and gives the number of pupils at the end of KS4 who attended these schools in 2006.
	
		
			  LA number  Estab number  LA name  School name  Number of pupils at end of KS4 
			 207 4681 Kensington and Chelsea Saint Thomas More Language College 121 
			 210 4215 Southwark Walworth School 256 
			 210 4725 Southwark Archbishop Michael Ramsey Technology College 158 
			 211 4024 Tower Hamlets Bow School 82 
			 211 4284 Tower Hamlets Bethnal Green Technology College 165 
			 212 4329 Wandsworth Battersea Technology College 94 
			 304 5403 Brent Queens Park Community School 194 
			 306 6900 Croydon BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology 124 
			 316 4016 Newham Rokeby School 158 
			 316 4034 Newham Eastlea Community School 197 
			 320 4063 Waltham Forest Heathcote School 156 
			 330 4008 Birmingham Saltley School and Specialist Science College 176 
			 330 4332 Birmingham The Heartlands High School 95 
			 330 4611 Birmingham St. Alban's C of E School 72 
			 330 5900 Birmingham St. Paul's Community Foundation School 11 
			 331 4000 Coventry Barr's Hill School and Community College 80 
			 331 4039 Coventry Ernesford Grange Community Schoola specialist science college 200 
			 332 4117 Dudley The Hillcrest School and Community College 126 
			 333 5400 Sandwell Manor Foundation Business, Enterprise  Sports College 145 
			 335 4100 Walsall Darlaston Community Science College 206 
			 335 6905 Walsall Walsall Academy 54 
			 340 4003 Knowsley Brookfield High School 160 
			 340 4014 Knowsley Prescot School 177 
			 340 4017 Knowsley Bowring Community Sports College 162 
			 340 5400 Knowsley St. Thomas Becket Catholic High School 128 
			 341 5401 Liverpool Our Lady's Catholic High School 1 
			 344 4017 Wirral Park High School 192 
			 352 4286 Manchester Newall Green High School 180 
			 352 6905 Manchester Manchester Academy 136 
			 355 4018 Salford Beis Yaakov High School 34 
			 355 6905 Salford Salford City Academy 101 
			 357 4025 Tameside Hyde Technology School and Hearing Impaired Resource Base 181 
			 359 4800 Wigan Saint Thomas More Catholic High School 127 
			 370 4019 Barnsley The Elmhirst School 89 
			 371 4020 Doncaster North Doncaster Technology College 248 
			 373 4228 Sheffield Waltheof School 207 
			 380 4022 Bradford Belle Vue Boys' School 81 
			 380 4033 Bradford Wyke Manor School 169 
			 380 4041 Bradford Belle Vue Girls' School 162 
			 380 4101 Bradford Grange Technology College 289 
			 380 4613 Bradford Feversham College 89 
			 380 5404 Bradford Laisterdyke Business  Enterprise College 174 
			 383 4044 Leeds Primrose High School 119 
			 801 4046 Bristol, City of Speedwell Technology College 204 
			 806 6905 Middlesbrough Unity City Academy 187 
			 810 4454 Kingston Upon Hull,City of Isaac Newton School 105 
			 812 4008 North East Lincolnshire Havelock School 130 
			 813 4075 North Lincolnshire Brumby Engineering College 148 
			 826 4085 Milton Keynes Sir Frank Markham Community School 291 
			 826 5400 Milton Keynes Stantonbury Campus 512 
			 830 4103 Derbyshire Frederick Gent School 174 
			 830 4200 Derbyshire Springwell Community School 158 
			 831 4177 Derby Bemrose Community School 132 
			 831 4608 Derby da Vinci Community College 91 
			 836 4104 Poole Carter Community School 107 
			 845 4062 East Sussex Eastbourne Technology College 176 
			 846 4022 Brighton and Hove Falmer High School 138 
			 856 4252 Leicester Riverside Community College 166 
			 856 4270 Leicester Babington Community Technology College 208 
			 861 4185 Stoke-on-Trent Mitchell High School 105 
			 866 4087 Swindon Headlands 158 
			 876 4218 Halton Halton High School 111 
			 881 4002 Essex Bishops Park College 3 
			 882 5430 Southend-on-Sea The Thorpe Bay School 114 
			 886 5413 Kent Oldborough Manor Community School 106 
			 886 5419 Kent Angley Schoola sports college 182 
			 886 5421 Kent The Canterbury High School 183 
			 886 5453 Kent Montgomery School 44 
			 886 6906 Kent The Marlowe Academy 82 
			 888 4005 Lancashire Skerton Community High School 55 
			 888 4042 Lancashire Burnley Towneley High School 145 
			 891 4008 Nottinghamshire Kirkby College 144 
			 891 4041 Nottinghamshire Garibaldi College 200 
			 892 4460 Nottingham The River Leen School 149 
			 909 4304 Cumbria The Alfred Barrow School 91 
			 916 5413 Gloucestershire Central Technology College 93 
			 919 4029 Hertfordshire Adeyfield School 145 
			 925 4061 Lincolnshire Birkbeck School and Community Arts College 72 
			 925 4067 Lincolnshire Queen Eleanor Technology College 104 
			 925 4609 Lincolnshire St. Clements College 207 
			 925 5414 Lincolnshire Joseph Ruston Technology College 92 
			 925 5419 Lincolnshire The Grantham Church (VA) High School 71 
			 928 5406 Northamptonshire Manor School and Sports College 117 
			 931 4005 Oxfordshire Drayton School 94 
			 935 4600 Suffolk St. Benedict's Catholic School 141 
			 Total12,011 
		
	
	The following table lists the maintained mainstream schools where no pupils at the end of KS4 were entered at GCSE in a modern foreign language and gives the number of pupils at the end of KS4 who attended these schools in 2006.
	
		
			  LA number  Estab number  LA name  School name  Number of pupils at end of KS4 
			 330 4206 Birmingham Stockland Green Technology College 121 
			 330 5900 Birmingham St. Paul's Community Foundation School 11 
			 335 6905 Walsall Walsall Academy 54 
			 341 4783 Liverpool Campion Catholic High School 100 
			 341 4795 Liverpool De La Salle Humanities College 117 
			 341 5401 Liverpool Our Lady's Catholic High School 1 
			 381 4036 Calderdale The Ridings School 118 
			 805 4131 Hartlepool Dyke House Comprehensive School 159 
			 806 4122 Middlesbrough Ormesby School 158 
			 810 4004 Kingston Upon Hull, City of Kingswood High School 218 
			 825 4094 Buckinghamshire The Wye Valley School 124 
			 831 4608 Derby da Vinci Community College 91 
			 840 4052 Durham Fyndoune Community College 86 
			 840 4192 Durham Durham Community Business College for Technology and Enterprise 111 
			 851 4302 Portsmouth King Richard Secondary School 203 
			 861 4185 Stoke-on-Trent Mitchell High School 105 
			 867 4030 Bracknell Forest The Brakenhale School 109 
			 870 4013 Reading Thamesbridge College 78 
			 881 4002 Essex Bishops Park College 3 
			 881 5417 Essex Furtherwick Park School 151 
			 883 4299 Thurrock The Ockendon School 133 
			 888 4005 Lancashire Skerton Community High School 55 
			 909 4301 Cumbria The Morton School 140 
			 925 5410 Lincolnshire The Castle Hills Community Arts College 119 
			 933 5401 Somerset Brymore School 54 
			 Total2,619 
		
	
	Data for 2006 is revised.

Leak Inquiries

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many occasions his Department and its predecessor department conducted a leak inquiry since May 1997; what the subjects of those leak inquiries were; and who authorised each inquiry.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has conducted 39 inquiries since May 1997. 12 of the inquiries were led by the Department and its predecessor. It has been the practice of successive governments not to comment on the subject or outcome of leak inquiries as there is a continued necessity to safeguard security and investigative arrangements.

Public Appointments

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which public appointments have been made by his Department to former Ministers who have served in the Government since May 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: Information about the political activity of appointees is recorded and publicised in accordance with the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments' code of practice. This shows that no former Ministers who have served in the Government since May 1997 have since been appointed to public bodies sponsored by the Department.

School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of pupils in  (a) primary schools and  (b) secondary schools who had school-provided lunches in each year since 1995-96.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The Schools Census (SC) collects information on pupils who are eligible for and take a free school meal on the day of the census in January.

School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what duties have been placed upon local authorities to provide a mid-day meal for all pupils in primary and secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: A local authority, or its schools where the school has a delegated budget for meals, has a duty to provide a paid-for meal service where one is requested by a parent, and also a duty to provide free school meals to pupils that are eligible. However, it is for the local authority or the school to decide whether this should take the form of a hot meal or a cold packed lunch as long as the meal complies with the requirements of the nutritional standards for school lunches set out in Regulations.

School Meals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools served hot school meals in each year from 1990-91 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Education and Skills does not collect this information. However, the School Food Trust baseline survey of local authorities carried out in March 2006 shows that 72 per cent. of primary and 96.5 per cent. of secondary schools have facilities where food can be prepared from scratch. The School Food Trust is to carry out this survey annually for the next three years.

Schools: Catering

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grants for capital spending to improve kitchen facilities were made to schools in each year from 1990-91 to 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department has not given specific grants to schools to improve kitchen facilities as it relies upon local authorities to prioritise the allocations they are given. These allocations have risen, in cash terms, from approximately 0.8 billion in 1990-91 to a planned 6.4 billion in 2007-08 and 8 billion in 2010-11.
	Capital guidance requires schools and local authorities to consider how, using formulaic capital funding, they can ensure that they provide at least one healthy hot meal a day on the premises, in reasonable comfort in suitable dining facilities. This objective is also taken account of within the Building Schools for the Future and Academies schools building programmes.
	In September 2006, the Secretary of State announced that, in the spending review period commencing 1 April 2008, funding would be available to local authorities to support the installation of kitchens where currently there are none, and where there is exceptional need that cannot reasonably be met from other sources. We aim to announce further details later this year.

Schools: Eating Disorders

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to improve help offered to children with eating disorders when at school.

Parmjit Dhanda: The 2001 DfES guidance, 'Promoting Children's Mental Health within Early Years and Schools Settings' includes a section on eating disorders and general principles that schools should follow in working with young people who experience eating disorders.
	The guidance emphasizes the important role that schools can play in helping young people to develop confidence and self-esteem, manage the way in which they think about themselves, and ensure they eat regular meals. Where there is rapid weight loss, schools should liaise with parents for the young person to be referred for a medical assessment.
	The promotion of emotional well-being already forms part of many DfES policies including the personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum, the national healthy schools programme, the improving behaviour and attendance programme, and the social and emotional aspects learning (SEAL) curriculum materials. New Children's Trusts arrangements should lend further support to schools with their focus on multi-agency partnerships and stronger links with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Schools: History

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in Ludlow constituency have a teacher with a formal qualification to teach history.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	In 2002 an estimated 13,700 full time teachers were teaching history in maintained schools in England. Of these, an estimated 77 per cent. (three percentage points) held a qualification in history. The source of this information is the 2002 secondary school curriculum and staffing survey and is the latest available.

Schools: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many school playgrounds in Lancashire were sold in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how much school land in Lancashire was sold in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: Before October 1998 there was no regulation of the sale of school playing fields at most schools. In the period since then, the Secretary of State has approved eight applications that involve the sale of school land in Lancashire, as follows:
	12 March 1999playing fields at the closed site of the former St. Richard's Roman Catholic High School;
	16 April 1999playing fields at the closed site of the former St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic High School;
	6 September 2000part of the playing fields at Southlands High School, Chorley;
	7 March 2001part of the playing fields at Baines High School, Poulton-le-Fylde;
	8 May 2001a hard games court at Corpus Christi School in Preston;
	22 July 2002hard play area of the closed Marsh Junior School;
	27 August 2002hard play area at the closed site of Fleetwood High School;
	28 March 2006a hard play and informal area at the closed site of Fairlie Primary School in Skelmersdale.

Schools: Security

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills at how many  (a) secondary schools and  (b) primary schools teachers receive police escorts to enter or leave school premises, broken down by local education authority.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Schools: Sports

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in England have established links with an  (a) football,  (b) cricket,  (c) Rugby Union,  (d) Rugby League and  (e) tennis club in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 5 March 2007
	Based on data collected through the annual school sport survey, which began in 2003 and collects data from schools in School Sport Partnerships, the following percentages of schools had links with these clubs:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06 
			 Football 73 75 78 
			 Cricket 45 46 52 
			 Rugby Union 39 41 46 
			 Rugby League 10 9 10 
			 Tennis 27 30 36 
		
	
	When the 2005/06 survey was conducted, 80 per cent. of maintained schools in England were in a School Sport Partnership. When the 2004/05 survey was undertaken, this figure was 54 per cent. and in 2003/04, 30 per cent. All maintained schools are now in a School Sport Partnership.

Schools: Uniforms

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1023W, on schools: uniforms, which organisations will be consulted on school uniform guidance; and how long the consultation will last.

Jim Knight: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The Department is currently drawing up a list of consultees and will publish the school uniform guidance for consultation shortly. The consultation period will run for at least 12 weeks in line with Cabinet Office guidelines.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he plans to produce  (a) an initial public sector regulatory impact assessment and  (b) to full regulatory impact assessment for the proposed changes to the secondary curriculum.

Jim Knight: An initial regulatory impact assessment will be completed once we receive the outcomes of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority consultation on the secondary curriculum review. The result of the initial assessment will determine whether or not a full regulatory impact assessment is required.

Social Services: Manpower

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to increase recruitment into the social care workforce.

Parmjit Dhanda: DfES and Department of Health jointly published a review of the social care workforce 'Options for Excellence' in October 2006. This sets out a vision of a proud, professional and successful workforce for the future. The report includes a number of steps to directly or indirectly support recruitment into the workforce.
	Both the DfES and DH are currently considering how to take forward, with partners, the options set out in the report. Some of these are already under way or have been completed such as the development of a code of practice for international recruitment. Other options in the report will be included for consideration in the current and future comprehensive spending reviews.

Special Educational Needs: Expenditure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many children required special educational needs provision in each local education authority area in each of the last five years; and what the average spending per head was in each case;
	(2)  what the total spending on special educational needs by each local education authority was in each of the last five years.

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the per capita funding was for children with  (a) statements and  (b) special educational needs without statements in each local authority in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Parmjit Dhanda: The available information has been placed in the Library of the House.

Specialist Schools

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information the Government have collected on the performance of pupils at specialist schools in their school's area of specialism compared to pupils studying the same subjects in schools without that specialism.

Jim Knight: The information is not available in the form requested and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Teenage Pregnancies

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the conception rate per 1,000 women  (a) aged under 18 and  (b) aged 16 to 18 years was in the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by (A) parliamentary constituency and (B) local authority area.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated March 2007:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the conception rate per 1,000 women are for (a) aged under 18 (b) aged 16 to 18 years has been in the most recent period available (i) in total and (ii) broken down by (A) parliamentary constituency and (B) local authority area. I am replying in her absence. (124979)
	Information on teenage conceptions is routinely published for local authorities and strategic health authorities. Figures cannot be provided by parliamentary constituency because of the risk of disclosing information about individuals due to small differences in boundaries between the parliamentary constituency and the local authority.
	Teenage conception rates for 2005 (latest year for which figures are available) for England and Wales by local authority area are shown in the attached table, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Figures for 2005 are provisional.
	Figures for 16 to 18 years are not routinely produced and can only be made available at disproportionate costs.

Youth Work: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth workers there were in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) Chorley in each of the last 10 years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Youth workers are recruited locally by local authority youth services. Information is not held centrally on the number of youth workers directly employed at a local level or who are funded by public money.

Youth Work: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth centres were  (a) sold,  (b) closed and  (c) opened in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Youth centres are delivered locally by local authority youth services and national and local voluntary youth organisations. Information is not held centrally on the number of youth centres at local, regional or national level.

Youth Work: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what schemes funded by central Government have been instituted in Lancashire to keep young people occupied in the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Youth programmes of a diversionary and/or development nature which have been funded by DfES, and instituted in Lancashire, in the last five years include Children's Fund, Local Network Fund, the Neighbourhood Support Fund (NSF), Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP), Millennium Volunteers (MV), Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds . Local authority youth services and the voluntary and community sector also run youth provision with the aim of providing personal, social and educational development for young people.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animals: Experiments

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce changes in EU regulation on the use of animals in experimentation into British legislation.

Joan Ryan: The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 makes provision for the protection of animals used for experimental or other scientific purposes which may have the effect of causing pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. The Act puts into effect, and in some ways exceeds, the requirements of European Union directive 86/609/EEC and of Council of Europe Convention ETS 123.
	The European Commission is seeking to revise directive 86/609 and our principal objectives during the review will be to ensure efficient and effective regulation that properly balances the protection of animals against the legitimate needs of science and industry. We will aim to support improvements to the regulation of animal use which focus on key areas where regulation and harmonisation would improve animal welfare; improve scientific outputs; provide a more level playing field within the European Union; and improve the European Union's competitiveness with other economic regions without compromising science and welfare.
	However, the directive has stood the test of time well and still provides a sound framework for regulation. Therefore, we do not believe that wholesale changes to the directive are necessary to achieve the main benefits sought of harmonisation and improving animal welfare.
	The European Commission currently plans to introduce proposals into the European parliamentary process in May 2007. At such time as a revised directive is adopted, the necessary action will be taken to transpose and implement its provisions in United Kingdom legislation.

Assaults on Police

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were assaulted while on duty in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The latest available data shows that 14,518 police officers in England and Wales were assaulted in the year to 31 March 2005.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to change funding of the Avon and Somerset constabulary following  (a) the most recent figures on relative crime levels and  (b) the conclusions of recent departmental reviews of force funding; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question on 29 November 2006,  Official Report, column 779W.
	Since then, on 31 January 2007, the House of Commons approved the funding settlement for 2007-08.

Bokhari Family

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account he took of the  (a) psychological and  (b) educational effects of deportation to Pakistan on the children in the Bokhari family, recently deported from Grimsby.

Liam Byrne: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 20 February 2007 with the information requested.

Community Support Officers: Cheshire

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers are working in Cheshire; and how many he expects to be recruited over the next three years.

Tony McNulty: There were 77 full-time equivalent police community support officers (PCSOs) working in Cheshire on 30 September 2006; which are the latest available data.
	Cheshire police has an overall strength target of 237 PCSOs for April 2007 and in support of this will receive funding totalling 3.2 million in 2006-07, increasing to 4.5 million in 2007-08. It is a matter for the chief constable and the Police Authority to take decisions on the number of PCSOs and other staff that the force should recruit in 2007-08 and beyond.

Crime: Bedfordshire

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the police detection rates were for all recorded crimes in Bedfordshire, in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The requested information for total detection rates are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table A: Detection rates for Bedfordshire police force area, 1997 
			   Percentage 
			   Detection rate 
			 1997 35 
			  Note: Police crime statistics were recorded on a calendar year basis up to 1997 and thereafter on a financial year basis. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Detection rates for Bedfordshire police force area, 1998-99 to 2001-02 
			   Percentage 
			   Detection rate 
			 1998-99 33 
			 1999-2000 25 
			 2000-01 27 
			 2001-02 25 
			  Note: An expanded offence coverage and revised set of counting rules were introduced in April 1998. Figures recorded before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Detection rates for Bedfordshire police force area, 2002-03 to 2005-06 
			   Percentage 
			   Detection rate 
			 2002-03 26 
			 2003-04 23 
			 2004-05 28 
			 2005-06 25 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers of recorded crime were affected by changes in reporting and recording following the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002. These data are not comparable with earlier years. 2. As from 2005-06, the published detections rates by police force area are based on 'sanction' detections only (these consist of detections by charge or summons, caution, reprimand or final warning, offence taken into consideration, penalty notice for disorder, formal warning for cannabis possession). Non-sanction detections rates have been found to vary widely between forces with some now recording very few non-sanction detections. The published overall 'sanction detection rate' for Bedfordshire in 2005-06 is 21 per cent.

Crime: Durham

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of  (a) offences against the person,  (b) sexual offences,  (c) robbery,  (d) burglary,  (e) theft,  (f) fraud,  (g) drug offences and  (h) motoring offences have been recorded in the past 12 months in County Durham; and how many were recorded in 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The recorded crime figures for  (a) offences against the person,  (b) sexual offences,  (c) robbery,  (d) burglary,  (e) theft,  (f) fraud,  (g) drug offences, for the Durham police force area are given in the table for 1997 and 2005-06.
	Motoring offences are recorded in a separate collection. The latest available numbers of motoring offences dealt with by official police action within the Durham police force area are for 2004 and are given in the table together with figures for 1997.
	
		
			  Table 1: Recorded crime for Durham police force area 1997 and 2005-06( 1,2) 
			  Offence  1997( 3)  2005-06 
			 Violence against the person 1,924 9,899 
			 Sexual offences 341 694 
			 Robbery 142 281 
			 Burglary 12,209 6,660 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 20,624 15,872 
			 Fraud and forgery 1,163 1,229 
			 Drug offences(4) 404 1,299 
			 (1) These figures have been taken from the Supplementary Tables for England and Wales 1997 and HOSB Crime In England and Wales 2005-06. (2) Numbers of recorded crimes will be affected by changes in reporting and recording. On 1 April 1998 an expanded offence coverage and revised set of counting rules came into effect. This was followed by the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002. Due to these changes, figures recorded before and after these dates are not directly comparable. (3) Crime statistics were recorded on a calendar year basis up to 1997 and thereafter on a financial year basis. (4) Up until 1997-98, the only drug offence recorded was 'Trafficking in controlled drugs'. As from April 1998, drug offences were expanded to included 'Possession of controlled drugs' and 'Other drug offences'. For this reason, figures recorded before and after this date are not directly comparable. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Motoring offences for Durham police force area, 1997 and 2004( 1) 
			  Offence dealt with by:  1997  2004( 2) 
			 Written warning 1,299 828 
			 Vehicle defect rectification scheme notices 4,365 3,600 
			 Fixed penalty notices 21,308 12,789 
			 Court proceedings 11,980 19,215 
			 (1) These figures have been taken from the annual Home Office publication 'Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales Supplementary tables 2004 and 1997'Tables 18,19, 20(a) and 16(a). (2) Latest available data.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is under way to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system currently being implemented by the Department for Constitutional Affairs reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Crime: Victims

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of victims of crime were referred to Victim Support by police in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table A 
			   Total number of referrals to Victim Support in four crime types  Referrals from the police as a percentage of the total referrals in the four crime types 
			 2001-02 970,577 90 
			 2002-03 1,104,624 90 
			 2003-04 1,044,174 91 
		
	
	From 2004-05 Victim Support have supplied OCJR with data on all referrals from the police. Table B shows the total number of victims of crime referred to victim support between 2001-02 and 2005-06 and the percentage of referrals, in all crime types, that came from the police.
	
		
			  Table B 
			   Total number of all referrals to Victim Support  Referrals from the police as a percentage of the total referrals 
			 2001-02 1,257,085 (1) 
			 2002-03 1,404,130 (1) 
			 2003-04 1,359,150 (1) 
			 2004-05 1,282,223 91 
			 2005-06 1,386,915 90 
			 (1) Data not available. 
		
	
	Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented in this response are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from Victim Support's own data return. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Dispersal Orders: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dispersal orders were issued in Lancashire in each of the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: Between January 2004 and December 2006 there were 20 dispersal zones reported to the Home Office by Lancashire constabulary. 18 were reported before April 2006 and two since.

Driving Offences: Accidents

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted  (a) for the offence of failing to give particulars or to report an accident within 24 hours,  (b) of undefined accident offences and  (c) for the offence of failing to stop after an accident in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: Available information taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, and given in the table, shows the number of defendants convicted for offences under section 170(4) and (7) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
	Information on 'undefined accident offences' is not held.
	
		
			  Number of persons convicted( 1)  at all courts for accident offences( 2, 3,)   England and Wales, 1996-2005 
			   Offence 
			   Failing to report an accident within 24 hours( 2)  Failing to stop after an accident( 3) 
			 1996 1,545 4,842 
			 1997 1,557 4,817 
			 1998 1,529 4,509 
			 1999 1,429 4,323 
			 2000 1,291 4,152 
			 2001 1,362 4,332 
			 2002 1,343 4,248 
			 2003 1,393 4,444 
			 2004 1,426 4,549 
			 2005 1,308 4,307 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Offences under the RTA88 s. 170(4) and (7). (3) Offences under the RTA88 s. 170(4).   Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is under way to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system currently being implemented by the Department for Constitutional Affairs reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated.  2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had on the processes for assessing applications for student visas; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 26 February 2007
	Processes are the responsibility of the operational directorates within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and performance is kept under regular review by Ministers. Policy governing student routes is reviewed on a regular basis and Parliament is regularly updated with any proposed changes.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms exist to ensure that those who are in receipt of student visas attend the courses on which they are enrolled; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 26 February 2007
	One of the provisions of the student rules is that a student needs to provide an offer letter from an institution on the DfES register before a visa may be issued.
	If a student fails to attend, the institution can provide details to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. This is a voluntary scheme.
	When a student applies for an extension to their leave the application form requires the institution to provide written confirmation of the student's attendance.
	Under the points based system there will be a clearer link between the student's leave and the institution. There will also be a mandatory requirement on institutions to report non-attendance of their students.

Feltham Young Offender Institution and Remand Centre: Risk Assessment

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether risk management of filming in custody environments is covered by the local security strategy at HM Young Offender Institution Feltham; whether management at the establishment during the key compromise situation on 29 June ensured full compliance by staff with  (a) the risk assessment and  (b) the security strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This matter is the subject of litigation. It would not be appropriate to comment further.

Firearms

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to chief constables of police authorities on the  (a) registration,  (b) storage and  (c) disposal of firearms seized during police operations.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 26 February 2007
	Minimum standards of investigation are contained in the Gun Crime Investigative Guidance manual of good practice published jointly by the ACPO Criminal Use of Firearms Group and the Home Office. This provides detailed guidance on the recovery of firearms, including health and safety issues, the packaging, storage and exploitation of the results of forensic and ballistic examination, and the prevention of the contamination of evidence. Disposal is a matter dealt with by individual force policy and procedures, dependent on the circumstances of each case and whether or not criminal proceedings are involved.

Firearms

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rounds of ammunition collected during the 2003 gun amnesty have been successfully disposed of.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 26 February 2007
	During the firearms amnesty in 2003, over one million rounds of ammunition were handed in to police in England and Wales.
	The Home Office issued guidance to forces on the destruction of items handed in during the amnesty. The guidance advised forces that all firearms and ammunition should be destroyed in accordance with current force policy, other than those items considered to be of exceptional historic or forensic significance (as advised by the Forensic Science Service (FSS)), or items believed to have been used in crime and, after examination by the FSS, retained as part of an ongoing investigation.

Firearms: Crime

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department following the case of Campbell, reference 2006 EWCA Crim 726, numbered 200505869/A1 in the Court of Appeal, 9 March 2006, in relation to a person aged 18, 19 or 20 years convicted of a relevant firearms offence, whether the court is obliged under s51A(4)(a)(i) to impose a sentence of imprisonment of five years; whether such a sentence is prohibited by 589(1) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000; when he intends to bring in section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 1 March 2007
	It was announced on 22 February that an order would be laid to amend section 51A of the Firearms Act 1968 to ensure that 18 to 20-year-olds are subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm.
	Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 abolishes the sentence of detention in a young offender institution. Policy on young adult offenders in custody is currently under review. A variety of stakeholders have been and are being consulted. No decision has yet been taken on the way forward, but we hope to announce our plans in the reasonably near future.
	In addition, we also announced on 22 February during the Prime Minister's summit on gun crime and gangs that we would conduct a review of legislation in relation to gangs; this will include sentencing issues relating to young offenders.

Offensive Weapons

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the knives seized in the knife amnesty held in 2006 have been successfully disposed of.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office provided guidance to the police on the disposal of knives following the amnesty, as follows:
	Those items surrendered should be destroyed in accordance with local force procedures. In considering destruction options forces should judge how to maximise the media opportunity presented and ensure that any possibility of weapons being re-circulated is removed.
	It is a matter for the police to ensure the safe disposal of the items surrendered during the knife amnesty, which totalled almost 90,000 in England and Wales.

Offensive Weapons: Durham

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knives were handed in to police stations during 2006 in  (a) County Durham and  (b) Easington constituency.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office conducted a knife amnesty from 24 May to the end of June 2006. Data from the amnesty were collected at police force level. Durham police reported that 1,062 items were handed in.
	We do not hold data centrally on items handed in other than during the amnesty period.

Police Patrols

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of their time on average police officers spent  (a) completing paperwork and  (b) on patrol in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 26 January 2007
	Figures for this year and previous years are set out in the tables.
	Time spent on patrol is defined as time visible to the public and available to respond. As soon as an officer on patrol responds to an incident, or carries out any other activity, this ceases to be counted as time on patrol. The measure of time on patrol is therefore not an indicator of total frontline police presence. At the end of March 2006, 63.1 per cent. of police officer time was spent on frontline duties, as measured by the frontline policing measure.
	Policing necessarily requires accurate recording, for example to ensure accountability and guard against abuse of powers, to prepare case files, or to take witness statements. Non-incident paperwork includes that relating to complaints, truancy sweeps, community policing activities, line management activities, and inquiries that do not progress to incident status.
	
		
			  Table A: All Officers 
			  Percentage 
			  Year( 1)  Time spent on incident- related paperwork  Time spent on non incident- related paperwork  Total time spent on paperwork  Time spent on patrol( 2)  Frontline Policing Measure( 3) 
			 2003-04 10.3 9.8 20.1 14.2 62.1 
			 2004-05 9.9 8.5 18.4 15.3 62.6 
			 2005-06 10.8 8.5 19.3 14.0 63.1 
			 (1) Data were not collected before 2003. The information is taken from activity analysis, which is collected by all forces over a two-week period in each year and provides a snapshot of how officers are deployed. (2) Includes officers on foot/car/beat patrol, CID and traffic officers. (3 )Data were not collected before 2003. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Patrol Officers 
			  Percentage 
			  Year( 1)  Time spent on incident-related paperwork  Time spent on non incident-related paperwork  Total time spent on paperwork  Time spent on patrol 
			 2003-04 8.8 10.0 18.8 18.0 
			 2004-05 8.1 8.3 16.4 19.1 
			 2005-06 8.6 7.9 16.5 17.3 
			 (1) Data were not collected before 2003. The information is taken from activity analysis, which is collected by all forces over a two-week period in each year and provides a snapshot of how officers are deployed.

Police: Armed Forces

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the establishment of combined police stations for civilian police, Ministry of Defence police and Royal Military police.

Tony McNulty: We have not had discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence about establishing combined police stations for civilian police, the Ministry of Defence police and the Royal Military police.

Police: Cheshire

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were employed by Cheshire police in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The available data are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officer strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  for Cheshire police as at 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2006 
			  As at 31 March each year  Police officers 
			 1997 2,046 
			 1998 2,042 
			 1999 2,071 
			 2000 2,011 
			 2001 2,002 
			 2002 2,059 
			 2003 2,119 
			 2004 2,177 
			 2005 2,186 
			 2006 2,174 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items (2) Full-time equivalent excludes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave

Police: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of proposals to reduce the numbers of police officers in Cumbria.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 19 February 2007
	It is a matter for the chief constable in consultation with the police authority to determine the number of police officers that are employed by the Cumbria constabulary.

Police: Manpower

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in each force in England and Wales as at December 2006, broken down by rank.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 28 February 2007
	Data as at December 2006 are not yet available. The most recent published police strength data by rank and police force relates to 31 March 2006 and was published in Table 4 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, Police Service Strength in England and Wales (HOSB 13/06). A copy of the table follows.
	In addition, this bulletin is available in the Library of the House and can be downloaded from:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb1306.pdf
	
		
			  Table 4: Police officer strength as at 31 March 2006 by police force area, rank and gender, and officers per 100,000 population, England and Wales 
			  Full-time equivalents( 1) 
			   Male ranks 
			  Police force  ACPO rank  Chief Superintendent  Superintendent  Chief Inspector  Inspector  Sergeant  Constable  Total male ranks 
			 Avon and Somerset 4 10 16 33 143 429 2,084 2,719 
			 Bedfordshire 2 4 8 13 50 136 707 920 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 7 14 20 63 195 820 1,120 
			 Cheshire 4 6 14 21 101 289 1,287 1,722 
			 Cleveland 4 6 14 13 76 214 1,034 1,361 
			  
			 Cumbria 3 5 7 15 55 151 690 926 
			 Derbyshire 4 6 13 26 85 264 1,253 1,651 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3 10 19 34 137 455 2,087 2,745 
			 Dorset 3 4 10 26 60 188 909 1,200 
			 Durham 3 6 8 17 79 211 999 1,323 
			  
			 Essex 5 11 17 39 125 389 1,949 2,535 
			 Gloucestershire 4 6 7 22 63 168 739 1,009 
			 Greater Manchester 7 14 51 72 305 921 4,848 6,217 
			 Hampshire 4 7 29 38 157 490 2,136 2,860 
			 Hertfordshire 4 5 13 28 76 212 1,241 1,579 
			  
			 Humberside 4 10 15 27 107 281 1,296 1,740 
			 Kent 5 8 20 39 149 404 2,154 2,779 
			 Lancashire 3 10 17 34 155 481 2,118 2,818 
			 Leicestershire 4 10 14 24 91 263 1,395 1,801 
			 Lincolnshire 3 4 8 11 61 160 744 991 
			  
			 London, City of 3 5 11 18 48 115 495 695 
			 Merseyside 5 13 28 53 189 554 2.598 3,440 
			 Metropolitan police 33 86 213 435 1,492 4,514 17,950 24,722 
			 Norfolk 2 9 8 28 70 218 917 1,252 
			 Northamptonshire 3 6 9 18 58 157 769 1,020 
			  
			 Northumbria 4 12 23 45 171 519 2,462 3,236 
			 North Yorkshire 3 5 13 21 82 229 924 1,277 
			 Nottinghamshire 3 6 16 32 116 325 1,523 2,021 
			 South Yorkshire 5 10 22 37 148 404 1,917 2,543 
			 Staffordshire 4 6 13 29 87 310 1,342 1,791 
			  
			 Suffolk 3 7 9 17 58 155 749 998 
			 Surrey 5 6 21 30 81 260 1,043 1,446 
			 Sussex 5 16 19 39 150 388 1,781 2,398 
			 Thames Valley 2 11 31 40 182 475 2,492 3,233 
			 Warwickshire 4 5 7 16 46 131 598 807 
			  
			 West Mercia 3 9 15 20 101 327 1,366 1,841 
			 West Midlands 6 27 33 44 294 904 4,747 6,056 
			 West Yorkshire 5 16 35 60 237 645 3,310 4,309 
			 Wiltshire 3 7 7 19 61 137 686 920 
			  
			 Dyfed Powys 3 5 11 15 51 175 683 943 
			 Gwent 3 4 10 13 57 208 856 1,151 
			 North Wales 4 6 14 15 73 228 935 1,274 
			 South Wales 4 9 26 49 146 451 1,929 2,614 
			 Total of all 43 forces 189 435 908 1,645 6,135 18,128 82,564 110,003 
			  
			 National Crime Squad (NCS)(3) 0 5 15 41 87 193 621 962 
			 National Crime Intelligence Squad (NCIS) 0 6 8 16 8 18 27 83 
			 Central Service secondments 9 33 52 69 66 97 174 500 
			 British Transport Police 4 11 13 36 107 287 1,669 2,126 
			 Total other services 13 55 88 162 268 595 2,490 3,671 
			  
			 Total police service strength 202 490 996 1,807 6,402 18,723 85,054 113,674 
			 Total police service strength (excluding BTP) 198 479 983 1,771 6,296 18,436 83,385 111,548 
		
	
	
		
			  Full-time equivalents( 1) 
			   Female ranks 
			  Police force  ACPO rank  Chief Superintendent  Superintendent  Chief Inspector  Inspector  Sergeant  Constable  Total female ranks 
			 Avon and Somerset 1 2 3 9 15 60 631 721 
			 Bedfordshire 1 1 1 2 9 24 267 305 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 0 2 4 5 36 281 329 
			 Cheshire 0 0 1 3 15 54 423 496 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 2 5 30 304 341 
			  
			 Cumbria 1 1 1 2 3 22 308 339 
			 Derbyshire 0 1 2 3 10 32 375 422 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2 0 3 3 25 60 701 795 
			 Dorset 0 0 2 1 10 30 269 311 
			 Durham 0 1 1 1 9 34 347 393 
			  
			 Essex 0 0 4 5 19 79 680 787 
			 Gloucestershire 0 1 1 1 7 24 260 294 
			 Greater Manchester 0 5 4 15 60 189 1.582 1,854 
			 Hampshire 0 0 5 8 26 114 788 940 
			 Hertfordshire 0 1 3 2 13 50 517 587 
			  
			 Humberside 0 0 1 7 7 37 440 492 
			 Kent 0 1 2 10 25 78 753 869 
			 Lancashire 1 1 2 8 27 80 698 817 
			 Leicestershire 0 1 2 3 12 34 424 476 
			 Lincolnshire 0 1 0 3 4 24 213 245 
			  
			 London, City of 0 0 0 3 5 18 154 180 
			 Merseyside 2 0 3 7 31 87 733 863 
			 Metropolitan Police 6 6 16 35 176 673 5,313 6,225 
			 Norfolk 1 1 3 1 9 33 275 323 
			 Northamptonshire 1 0 0 3 10 37 268 318 
			  
			 Northumbria 2 0 4 7 21 76 721 831 
			 North Yorkshire 1 2 2 1 6 42 322 376 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 0 3 2 7 58 420 491 
			 South Yorkshire 0 1 1 6 21 73 661 762 
			 Staffordshire 1 0 1 2 9 45 452 511 
			  
			 Suffolk 0 0 1 3 5 24 277 309 
			 Surrey 1 1 1 6 22 62 429 521 
			 Sussex 0 1 2 8 25 69 624 729 
			 Thames Valley 1 1 4 6 32 92 919 1,055 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 1 1 5 8 218 233 
			  
			 West Mercia 1 1 1 7 11 54 470 545 
			 West Midlands 0 1 4 9 57 203 1,861 2,135 
			 West Yorkshire 1 3 1 5 40 108 1,217 1,376 
			 Wiltshire 0 1 0 0 8 25 275 309 
			  
			 Dyfed Powys 0 0 0 0 9 17 225 251 
			 Gwent 0 1 0 2 5 19 288 316 
			 North Wales 0 1 1 0 6 28 324 360 
			 South Wales 1 0 3 6 15 77 587 689 
			 Total of all 43 forces 27 38 92 211 839 3,021 27,293 31,520 
			  
			 National Crime Squad (NCS)(3) 0 0 2 3 6 18 88 117 
			 National Crime Intelligence Squad (NCIS) 0 0 0 0 0 4 5 9 
			 Central Service secondments 1 4 3 11 10 14 34 77 
			 British Transport Police 0 0 1 4 11 30 327 372 
			 Total other services 1 4 6 18 27 66 454 576 
			  
			 Total police service strength 28 42 98 229 865 3,087 27,747 32,096 
			 Total police service strength (excluding BTP) 28 42 97 225 855 3,057 27,420 31,723 
		
	
	
		
			  Full-time equivalents( 1) 
			  Police force  Total police ranks  Total officers per 100,000 population( 2)  Total constables  Constables per 100,000 population 
			 Avon and Somerset 3,439 226 2,715 179 
			 Bedfordshire 1,225 213 974 169 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,449 196 1,101 149 
			 Cheshire 2,218 223 1,710 172 
			 Cleveland 1,702 308 1,338 242 
			  
			 Cumbria 1,265 256 999 202 
			 Derbyshire 2,073 212 1,628 166 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3,540 219 2,788 172 
			 Dorset 1,512 216 1,178 168 
			 Durham 1,716 288 1,346 226 
			  
			 Essex 3,322 203 2,630 161 
			 Gloucestershire 1,303 228 999 174 
			 Greater Manchester 8,071 318 6,429 253 
			 Hampshire 3,800 211 2,923 162 
			 Hertfordshire 2,166 208 1,758 169 
			  
			 Humberside 2,232 251 1,736 196 
			 Kent 3,648 227 2,907 181 
			 Lancashire 3,635 253 2,816 196 
			 Leicestershire 2,277 241 1,820 192 
			 Lincolnshire 1,236 183 957 142 
			  
			 London, City of 875  649  
			 Merseyside 4,302 315 3,331 244 
			 Metropolitan Police 30,948 417 23,263 313 
			 Norfolk 1,575 193 1,191 146 
			 Northamptonshire 1,338 207 1,037 160 
			  
			 Northumbria 4,066 291 3,183 228 
			 North Yorkshire 1,653 216 1,246 163 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,512 243 1,943 188 
			 South Yorkshire 3,305 259 2,578 202 
			 Staffordshire 2,302 219 1,794 171 
			  
			 Suffolk 1,307 191 1,026 150 
			 Surrey 1,967 184 1,472 138 
			 Sussex 3,127 207 2,405 159 
			 Thames Valley 4,288 202 3,411 161 
			 Warwickshire 1,040 198 816 155 
			  
			 West Mercia 2,385 202 1,836 156 
			 West Midlands 8,192 318 6,608 256 
			 West Yorkshire 5,685 270 4,527 215 
			 Wiltshire 1,230 196 962 153 
			  
			 Dyfed Powys 1,194 237 908 180 
			 Gwent 1,467 264 1,144 206 
			 North Wales 1,634 242 1,258 187 
			 South Wales 3,303 271 2,516 207 
			 Total of all 43 forces 141,523 267 109,857 207 
			  
			 National Crime Squad (NCS)(3) 1,079  709  
			 National Crime Intelligence Squad (NCIS) 92  32  
			 Central Service secondments 577  208  
			 British Transport Police 2,499  1,995  
			 Total other services 4,247  2,236  
			  
			 Total police service strength 145,770 275 112,801 213 
			 Total police service strength (excluding BTP) 143,271 270 110,806 209 
			 (1) This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan police are combined. (3) The Director Generals, Directors and Deputy Directors left NCS to join SOCA before 31 March 2006 and therefore no officers are recorded at ACPO rank as they had already ceased to be police officers.

Police: Pay

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total wage bill for each police force in England and Wales is in 2006-07, broken down into  (a) police officers by rank,  (b) police community support officers and  (c) other police staff.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 28 February 2007
	Data on police pay is included in the annual reports on police finances published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The following tables give CIPFA data. Table A is based on CIPFA Police Statistics 2005-06 (Actuals) and table B on CIPFA Police Statistics 2006-07 (Estimates). Data by rank is not published by CIPFA.
	
		
			  Table A: figures based on CIPFA police statistics actuals 2005-06 
			  000 
			  Authority name  Police officer salaries  PCSO salaries  Other staff salaries  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset Police Authority 123,393 2,895 48,796 175,084 
			 Bedfordshire Police Authority 47,683 944 19,640 68,267 
			 Cambridgeshire Police Authority 53,758 1,964 22,021 77,743 
			 Cheshire Police Authority 84,414 2,482 29,323 116,219 
			 Cleveland Police Authority 62,414 2,232 16,469 81,115 
			 Corporation of London 42,692 389 10,309 53,390 
			 Cumbria Police Authority 47,959 397 15,766 64,122 
			 Derbyshire Police Authority 80,969 858 26,437 108,264 
			 Devon and Cornwall Police Authority 132,310 1,787 47,240 181,337 
			 Dorset Police Authority 57,552 1,157 22,183 80,892 
			 Durham Police Authority 65,020 1,363 16,279 82,662 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police Authority 46,016 644 14,910 61,570 
			 Essex Police Authority 134,939 3,656 49,088 187,683 
			 Gloucestershire Police Authority 51,152 1,581 17,406 70,139 
			 Greater Manchester Police Authority 315,302 (1) 97,777 413,079 
			 Gwent Police Authority 57,086 1,642 17,111 75,839 
			 Hampshire Police Authority 149,222 (1) 59,437 208,659 
			 Hertfordshire Police Authority 83,690 3,159 41,176 128,025 
			 Humberside Police Authority 87,999 431 26,256 114,686 
			 Kent Police Authority 149,033 2,172 62,554 213,759 
			 Lancashire Police Authority 137,487 3,814 40,852 182,153 
			 Leicestershire Police Authority 87,441 2,115 25,285 114,841 
			 Lincolnshire Police Authority 48,178 1,438 16,284 65,900 
			 Merseyside Police Authority 172,834 2,993 51,990 227,817 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,492,990 54,514 465,979 2,013,483 
			 Norfolk Police Authority 62,287 (1) 29,895 92,182 
			 North Wales Police Authority 64,465 1,793 22,610 88,868 
			 North Yorkshire Police Authority 63,200 1,804 25,226 90,230 
			 Northamptonshire Police Authority 53,164 (1) 26,721 79,885 
			 Northumbria Police Authority 155,993 2,102 41,733 199,828 
			 Nottinghamshire Police Authority 99,114 2,590 36,083 137,787 
			 South Wales Police Authority 129,569 2,885 35,380 167,834 
			 South Yorkshire Police Authority 133,745 2,947 42,036 178,728 
			 Staffordshire Police Authority 90,446 1,452 30,542 122,440 
			 Suffolk Police Authority 50,349 339 20,612 71,300 
			 Surrey Police Authority 78,674 2,288 42,466 123,428 
			 Sussex Police Authority 122,263 5,021 49,341 176,625 
			 Thames Valley Police Authority 169,091 2,325 71,662 243,078 
			 Warwickshire Police Authority 41,849 1,335 16,065 59,249 
			 West Mercia Police Authority 93,682 1,365 35,108 130,155 
			 West Midlands Police Authority 311,328 5,366 82,296 398,990 
			 West Yorkshire Police Authority 215,132 9,561 73,113 297,806 
			 Wiltshire Police Authority 48,265 963 19,114 68,342 
			 (1) The figure for PCSOs is included in the figure in the column headed other staff. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: figures based on CIPFA police statistics estimates 2006-07 
			  000 
			  Authority name  Police officers salaries  PCSO salaries  Other staff salaries  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset Police Authority 133,804 2,752 52,724 189,280 
			 Bedfordshire Police Authority 48,182 2,224 19,784 70,190 
			 Cambridgeshire Police Authority 54,151 3,104 25,586 82,841 
			 Cheshire Police Authority 85,371 2,409 30,345 118,125 
			 Cleveland Police Authority 66,469 3,061 17,359 86,889 
			 Corporation of London 43,168 393 11,179 54,740 
			 Cumbria Police Authority 48,872 545 17,677 67,094 
			 Derbyshire Police Authority 81,650 1,030 29,978 112,658 
			 Devon and Cornwall Police Authority 135,385 3,841 55,139 194,365 
			 Dorset Police Authority 58,296 1,890 25,500 85,686 
			 Durham Police Authority 65,618 1,767 16,623 84,008 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police Authority 48,230 723 16,456 65,409 
			 Essex Police Authority 137,758 4,898 51,039 193,695 
			 Gloucestershire Police Authority 52,751 2,219 19,066 74,036 
			 Greater Manchester Police Authority 313,365 7,425 97,816 418,606 
			 Gwent Police Authority 58,572 2,430 18,243 79,245 
			 Hampshire Police Authority 134,883 (1) 52,384 187,267 
			 Hertfordshire Police Authority 88,065 5,035 40,156 133,256 
			 Humberside Police Authority 93,664 3,000 27,207 123,871 
			 Kent Police Authority 182,671 3,882 56,741 243,294 
			 Lancashire Police Authority 140,469 4,075 42,744 187,288 
			 Leicestershire Police Authority 88,986 2,776 27,301 119,063 
			 Lincolnshire Police Authority 49,019 2,114 16,567 67,700 
			 Merseyside Police Authority 181,158 5,534 55,197 241,889 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,501,293 71,987 481,831 2,055,111 
			 Norfolk Police Authority 59,024 2,705 33,292 95,021 
			 North Wales Police Authority 64,312 2,075 20,794 87,181 
			 North Yorkshire Police Authority 65,552 2,225 28,072 95,849 
			 Northamptonshire Police Authority 51,981 487 23,166 75,634 
			 Northumbria Police Authority 156,806 2,102 43,627 202,535 
			 Nottinghamshire Police Authority 99,704 1,313 34,024 135,041 
			 South Wales Police Authority 132,376 3,493 35,970 171,839 
			 South Yorkshire Police Authority 132,923 4,566 38,751 176,240 
			 Staffordshire Police Authority 90,376 1,671 30,578 122,625 
			 Suffolk Police Authority 51,951 1,860 22,185 75,996 
			 Surrey Police Authority 82,239 2,465 48,649 133,353 
			 Sussex Police Authority 124,450 5,882 50,255 180,587 
			 Thames Valley Police Authority 167,487 6,341 75,921 249,749 
			 Warwickshire Police Authority 43,471 1,522 17,375 62,368 
			 West Mercia Police Authority 97,707 2,314 37,190 137,211 
			 West Midlands Police Authority 312,724 6,022 80,097 398,843 
			 West Yorkshire Police Authority 220,187 11,993 78,060 310,240 
			 Wiltshire Police Authority 47,580 797 23,144 71,521 
			 (1) The figure for PCSOs is included in the figure in the column headed other staff.

Police: Vehicles

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many police motorway patrol cars  (a) entered and  (b) left service in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what the average cost of a police motorway patrol car was in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Prison Governors

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison governors were managed moved within the Prison Service in 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: During 2006, out of a total of 96 senior manager appointments, 46 were managed, while the remainder were filled through open competition following internal advertisement. Of the 46: 19 were for in charge governor posts, five for deputy governor posts and the remainder to other positions in establishments, Prison Service headquarters, on interchange or secondment.

Prison Service: Disclosure of Information

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he expects to publish the report of the Tasker investigation into corruption and maltreatment of whistleblowers within HM Prison Service; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the cost was of the Tasker investigation into corruption and maltreatment of whistleblowers within HM Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Tasker report is now expected to report by the end of March 2007 and therefore the full cost of the investigation cannot yet be calculated.
	The Prison Service does not routinely publish internal investigations.

Prison Service: Pay

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether funds available for use as performance-related pay are allocated as part of a specific budget item for  (a) HM Prison Service and  (b) individual prison establishments; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No specific allocation is made to either  (a) HM Prison Service or  (b) individual establishments for use as performance related pay. Any payments of performance related pay are met from the overall allocations to HM Prison Service or individual prison establishments.

Prison Service: Vacancies

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there are within the Prison Service.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The latest available information shows that there was a shortfall against planned posts in the Prison Service (including contracted establishments) of 1,678 on 31 December 2006. This represents approximately 3 per cent. of planned posts.

Prison Service: Working Hours

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours per week HM Prison Service non-operational grade managers in receipt of required hours allowance payments are expected to work; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The criteria for the payment of required hours allowance (RHA) are laid out in the 2001 Pay CodePhase 1 Pay and Grading. This does not identify a weekly rate to qualify for payment of this allowance, which is paid only if the post meets the criteria specified as follows: RHA is considered payable for those Prison Service manager posts where the role requires regular unpredictable and unsociable working hours by the post holder. This will apply to both operational and non-operational staff in receipt of RHA.

Prison Service: Working Hours

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the time off in lieu hours accrued in HM Prison Service; what steps he is taking to ensure that such time is taken within the required five week period; what the outstanding total was of time off in lieu hours for the Prison Service  (a) at the end of each of the last five years and  (b) in the last month for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 March 2007
	Time off in lieu (TOIL) is managed locally in establishments, with oversight by Prison Service area managers.
	Accurate information in the form requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nominals are within the prison system, broken down by type; what the breakdown is of those nominals by  (a) ethnicity and  (b) religion; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Obtaining the information required would involve disproportionate cost. Furthermore information concerning nominal prisoners is intelligence related and confidential.

Prisoners: Religion

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on prisoners' access to copies of the Koran in Arabic.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 March 2007
	Muslim prisoners are permitted to have available for personal use a copy of the Qur'an, which may be in Arabic and/or English. In addition, copies are made available in other languages as required. In accordance with Islamic teaching, the Qur'an in Arabic has particular significance for Muslims.

Prisons: Management

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports into professional standards issues in HM Prison Service were produced in each of the last six years; what proportion of those reports involved the Metropolitan Police; how many of those reports were published; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is contained in the following table:
	
		
			  Reports into professional standards issues produced between 2000-06 
			  Year report produced  Total number of reports  Number of MET reports 
			 2006 1 1 
			 2005 3 2 
			 2004 0 0 
			 2003 0 0 
			 2002 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 
			 2000 1 0 
			 Total 5 3 
		
	
	Redacted versions of the first four reports and a full version of the fifth report have been published.

Probation Service

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) central departmental and  (b) central National Offender Management Service staff were responsible for the Probation Service in each of the last 10 years.

John Reid: Staffing numbers are detailed in the following table.
	The creation of NOMS in May 2005 has seen a gradual shift in direct probation support from the National Probation Directorate to NOMS HQ. However, although staff working in NOMS HQ deal with the probation service, it is not possible to provide a fully accurate split of responsibilities without incurring disproportionate costs, so no NOMS HQ staff are included in the totals.
	
		
			  Figures for Home Office Core Staff( 1) 
			  Year( 2)  Probation Unit  National Probation Directorate  Total 
			 1997 50  50 
			 1998 53  53 
			 1999 54  54 
			 2000 65  65 
			 2001  84 84 
			 2002  122 122 
			 2003  200 200 
			 2004  197 197 
			 2005  210 210 
			 2006(3)  133 133 
			 2007(3)  131 131 
			 (1) Headcount figures as FTE data are not available historically from the personnel archive. (2) Data as at 3 June annually, except for 2007 (as at 31 January 2007). (3) Excludes any staff in NOMS HQ who may be working on probation issues, since attempting to split out the probation element of their work would involve disproportionate costs.

Restraint Orders

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to include provisions for extending restraining orders in circumstances where the original order is breached; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Section 12(4) of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 will give a court dealing with a person for breach of a restraining order the power to make a further restraining order. This provision is due to come into force on 1 July 2007. In the meantime, the prosecutor, defendant or any person named in the Order may apply to the court which made the order at any time to have the order varied or discharged.

Restraint Orders

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend restraining orders to cover cases of  (a) assault,  (b) threats to kill and  (c) witness intimidation.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 23 February 2007
	Under section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, restraining orders are available to the courts when dealing with a person convicted of an offence under that Act of harassment or putting someone in fear of violence.
	Section 12(1) of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 will amend the 1997 Act so that restraining orders will be available when dealing with a defendant convicted for any offence. Section 12(5) of the Act will also provide the courts with the power to make a restraining order on acquittal if the court considers it necessary to do so to protect a person from harassment. These provisions are due to come into force on 1 July 2007.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty fines from Gatso speed cameras were not able to be issued in England and Wales in 2006 as a result of vehicles not being registered.

Vernon Coaker: Information collected centrally relates only to fixed penalties offered to the offending driver and does not identify the particular type of speed camera involved. It also does not record the reasons why in any particular case a fixed penalty could not be offered or the police chose not to do so.

Terrorism

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he  (a) received and  (b) expects to publish Lord Carlile of Berriew's report on the definition of terrorism.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The first draft of the report of Lord Carlile of Berriew on the definition of terrorism was received by the Home Office on 7 January. We will publish it as soon as possible.

Terrorism: Internet

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with US-based internet services providers on the removal from the internet of websites that promote acts of terrorism in the UK.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 2 March 2007
	The police regularly discuss enforcement and intelligence opportunities with a number of law enforcement and intelligence agencies abroad. Details cannot be made public as this would compromise operations.

Terrorism: Internet

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with US law enforcement agencies on prosecuting individuals who promote acts of terrorism via US websites in alleged pursuit of animal rights.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 2 March 2007
	The Government have made it clear that it is unacceptable for extremist groups to use websites as means to harass and intimidate individuals and organisations.
	The police in England and Wales regularly discuss enforcement and intelligence opportunities with a number of law enforcement and intelligence agencies abroad.

Theft: Northampton

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported cases of theft there were in Northampton North in each year from 1997 to 2007.

Tony McNulty: The area for Northampton North comes within the Northampton Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).
	CDRPs were set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and available figures for the numbers of recorded offences of total 'theft and handling' are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of offences recorded for Northampton CDRP, 2000-01 to 2001-02 
			   Total theft and handling stolen goods offences 
			 2000-01 10,893 
			 2001-02 10,714 
			  Note: An expanded offence coverage and revised set of counting rules were introduced in April 1998. Figures recorded before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Number of offences recorded for Northampton CDRP, 2002-03 to 2005-06 
			   Total theft and handling stolen goods offences 
			 2002-03 12,506 
			 2003-04 13,212 
			 2004-05 12,154 
			 2005-06 11,486 
			  Note: Numbers of recorded crime were affected by changes in reporting and recording following the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002. These data are not comparable with earlier years.

Wandsworth Prison

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the Schito report into allegations of management failure and dysfunction at HM Prison Wandsworth;
	(2)  what steps were taken as a consequence of the Schito report to prevent repetition of the failings identified; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The report the hon. Member refers to was not into allegations of management failure and dysfunction at HM Prison Wandsworth. It was a simple inquiry commissioned into a grievance by a member of staff. This simple inquiry was one of the factors that led to the commissioning of the Tasker report.

Wandsworth Prison

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which key performance areas of the service level agreement for HM Prison Wandsworth targets have been  (a) reduced and  (b) replaced; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There have been no reductions or replacements in the service level agreement for Wandsworth prison. There has however, been the addition of a target to deliver 24 completions of a short duration drug programme in the period December 2006 to March 2007.

Young People: Crime

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded incidents of each type of crime committed by youths between 16 and 21 years there were in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The requested information is not available centrally.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how her Department defines binge drinking; what assessment she has made of the impact of binge drinking on the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The best available measure of levels of binge drinking, as used by the Office for National Statistics' Information Centre for health and social care is the number of people who drank more than twice the recommended daily benchmark on at least one day in the previous week.
	Using this measure, 23 per cent. of men reported drinking more than eight units on at least one day in the week prior to interview. The proportion ranged from 33 per cent. of men aged 16 to 24 to 6 per cent. of those aged 65 and over. Among women, 9 per cent. reported drinking more than six units on at least one day during the previous week; 24 per cent. of those aged 16 to 24, and 1 per cent. of those aged 65 and over.
	The Government are determined to reduce the harms caused by alcohol misuse, both to people's health and to the community through antisocial behaviour. Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost the NHS 1.7 billion per annum, with up to 35 per cent. of all accident and emergency attendance and ambulance costs, around 0.5 billion, estimated to be alcohol-related.
	 Sources
	1. Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2006
	2. Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England, 2004

Ambulance Services: Sunderland

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances were in use in the Sunderland city council area in each of the last 10 years.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not held centrally.

Autism

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate her Department has made of the number of  (a) males and  (b) females diagnosed as autistic;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking jointly with local authorities to support people with autism.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not collect data on the number of people diagnosed as autistic.
	Data from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) for 2005-06 identified 10,355 finished consultant episodes with a diagnosis of pervasive development disorder (autistic spectrum disorder). Of these 7,575 were male and 2,780 were female. It is important to note that HES data represent patients admitted to national health service hospitals only and that figures are for episodes of care rather than the number of patients.
	Better Services for People with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Note Clarifying Current Government Policy and Describing Good Practice was published on 16 November 2006. A copy has been placed in the Library. This document clarifies the nature and intent of existing Government policy as it relates to adults with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). It is intended to encourage people in the social care and health field to develop local agendas for action. It does not develop new policy but explains what existing policy means for local commissioners and providers in terms of Government expectations for the delivery of public services for people with an ASD.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women aged 50 to 70 years participated in a breast screening programme in the Peterborough and Stamford hospitals NHS Foundation Trust area in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the format requested due to various mergers of national health service organisations between 1999 and 2001.
	However, the following table shows the number of women screened in North and South Peterborough from 2001-02 to 2004-05. It should be noted that women are invited once every three years for screening. The programme invites them on a general practitioner practice basis, so there will inevitably be variations year on year as women in different parts of the locality are invited for screening.
	
		
			  Breast screening programme: number of women screened by North Peterborough and South Peterborough primary care organisations (PCO) as at 31 March each specified year 
			  Primary care organisation  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Peterborough 9,975 9,808 10,868 10,640 
			 North Peterborough PCO 5,114 4,669 5,336 4,992 
			 South Peterborough PCO 4,861 5,139 5,532 5,648 
			  Note: Data prior to 2004-05 re-used with the permission of the Department of Health  Source: KC63 The Information Centre

Breast Cancer: Screening

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2006,  Official Report, column 538-9W, on breast cancer screening, whether the Department plans to issue guidance to primary care trusts and cancer networks on how to increase the provision of breast cancer screening services to meet the expected increase in the number of women aged 50 to 70 years between 2005 and 2025.

Rosie Winterton: We take the challenge of the impact of demographic change on the national health service breast screening programme very seriously. That is why Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director, wrote to the chief executives of all 10 strategic health authorities (SHAs) in England on 9 February 2007 highlighting the rise in the number of women eligible for screening in their local areas over the coming years.
	The letters, sent on behalf of the Department's cancer programme board, also congratulated the service on achieving the expansion of the breast screening programme, as set out in the NHS cancer plan, and reminded SHAs of the importance of maintaining a three-year recall rate within their local breast screening programmes.
	The breast screening programme is funded through primary care trust resource allocations and therefore the level of expenditure is determined locally based on local priorities and population needs.

Breast Cancer: Waiting lists

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for breast cancer treatment at Maidstone oncology department.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect data centrally on the average wait for breast cancer treatment. We do measure the percentage of breast cancer patients treated within 31 days of diagnosis and within 62 days of urgent general practitioner (GP) referral for suspected cancer. The table shows the latest figures for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells national health service trust:
	
		
			  Cancer waiting timesmonitoring the one month wait target from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer quarter two 2006-07 (July-September) 
			   Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust 
			  Patients treated during the quarter by referral type  
			 GP urgent referrals 47 
			 Other referrals 44 
			 Total number of patients treated during the quarter 91 
			 Percentage compliance with the one month (1 days) rule 100.0 
			 Number of patients treated during the quarter within one month (31 days) of the date of a clinical diagnosis being made by a responsible specialist 91 
			   
			  Number of patients treated during the quarter not treated within one month of the data of the clinical diagnosis being made by a responsible specialist  
			 But treated within 38 days of the date of that same clinical diagnosis 0 
			 But treated between 39 and 48 days of the date of that same clinical diagnosis 0 
			 But treated between 49 and 62 days of the date of that same clinical diagnosis 0 
			 And not treated within 62 days of the date of that same clinical diagnosis 0

Cancelled Operations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the main reasons were for hospitals cancelling heart operations in the latest period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: Specific data are not available, but the main reason is likely to be the need to prioritise emergency admissions over elective admissions. Clinical need takes priority. Cancellations are at their lowest level for five years. Cancellations cause anxiety which can be reduced by good communication between hospital and patient.

Capture, Assess, Treat and Support Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1583W, on the Capture, Assess, Treat and Support Services, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the process to determine how such services will be provided entails  (a) fair and open competition and  (b) value for money in the provision of the service; and when she expects (i) the ongoing commercial negotiations to be completed and (ii) to be able to provide the (A) set-up and (B) total first year costs of the service.

Andy Burnham: The procurement process is being conducted in strict compliance with European Union procurement law.
	Value for money has been ensured by running a robust and competitive procurement process. Bidders for the Cumbria and Lancashire clinical assessment, treatment and support (CATS) scheme have been required to negotiate and meet specific criteria across a range of specifications including clinical services, finance, workforce, information management and technology, and contract management. The process is in accordance with the Office of Government Commerce best practice.
	Netcare was selected as preferred bidder for the Cumbria and Lancashire CATS scheme in August 2006 as they were considered to exceed the performance criteria and provide the best value for money, within the affordability threshold.
	The CATS scheme aims to deliver best value to the local health economy by procuring cost effective triaging of general practitioner referrals and a range of diagnostics capacity. All phase two independent sector treatment centre electives schemes will, as part of their final approvals process, need to demonstrate to HM Treasury that they offer value for money when compared to equivalent costs in the national health service.
	No contract has yet been signed and the commercial terms are still under negotiation. The scheme is the subject of a public consultation exercise due to conclude in March 2007. The commercial terms between the Department and Netcare, and the cost of the procurement, are commercially sensitive.

Care Homes: Hygiene

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care homes did not comply with minimum infection control standards in each of the last three years in each region in England.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 2 March 2007
	I am informed by the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the information requested is as shown in the tables.
	
		
			  Performance of care homes against national minimum standards( 1)  for hygiene and infection control by region 
			  As at 31 March 2006 
			   Hygiene and infection control standard not met 
			  Region  Number  Percentage 
			 East Midlands 237 15.7 
			 Eastern 337 19.0 
			 London 382 19.9 
			 North East 163 17.6 
			 North West 369 16.8 
			 South East 714 20.5 
			 South West 463 18.5 
			 West Midlands 620 33.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 364 22.0 
			 Total no meeting standard 3,649 20.5 
		
	
	
		
			  As at 31 March 2005 
			   Hygiene and infection control standard not met 
			  Region  Number  Percentage 
			 East Midlands 299 19.1 
			 Eastern 440 24.4 
			 London 476 24.3 
			 North East 200 20.7 
			 North West 490 21.4 
			 South East 823 23.1 
			 South West 581 22.3 
			 West Midlands 752 39.2 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 396 23.2 
			 Total not meeting standard 4,457 24.3 
		
	
	
		
			  As at 31 March 2004 
			   Hygiene and infection control standard not met 
			  Region  Number  Percentage 
			 East Midlands 454 28.8 
			 Eastern 500 28.3 
			 London 599 31.1 
			 North East 235 24.4 
			 North West 699 28.9 
			 South East 931 26.2 
			 South West 747 27.9 
			 West Midlands 851 43.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 523 30.0 
			 Total not meeting standard 5,539 29.8 
			  Notes: 1. The national minimum standards (NMS) referred to are: Standard 26: NMScare homes for older people. Standard 30: NMScare homes for adults aged 18 to 65. 2. The figures and percentages shown are for all care homes. 
		
	
	Where it is considered that standards on infection control have not been met and that a regulation has been breached, CSCI may require the situation to be remedied within a set time. If there is no acceptable response to a warning letter, or if it is considered that there is a serious risk to service users, CSCI may consider issuing a statutory requirement notice. The notice clearly states what legal requirement is unmet, the corrective action which must be taken and stipulates the datewhich will be no more than three months henceby which the requirement must be met.
	To ensure requirements are complied with, CSCI has an escalating tariff of enforcement options. These are included in its enforcement guidance, which is published on the CSCI website at:
	www.csci.org.uk/care_professional/service__providers/guidance/guidance_for_all_service_provi/new__enforcement_policy_now__ava.aspx

Children: Health

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to encourage authorities to work with families to ensure children adopt healthy lifestyles from an early age.

Caroline Flint: The Department, working with the Department for Education and Skills, is committed to supporting families to help children establish healthy lifestyles. Some examples are as follows.
	Sure Start children's centres have been established where parents, parents to be and children under five years old can receive services and advice on healthy eating, play and activity. The revised Children's Centre Practice Guidance, issued in November last year, now has a dedicated chapter on obesity, for example.
	The Healthy Schools Programme creates a healthy environment for children by encouraging schools to promote good health across their activities and across the whole school community.
	Healthy lifestyles are also integrated within the new Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, which will come into play in 2008 and sets the curriculum and standards for all early years settings.
	Families can also access the 'Your Weight Your Health' leaflet available on the Department's website, which suggests ways in which people can change their lifestyles by eating more healthily and being physically active.
	The Department has also used social marketing techniques to gain a better understanding of the drivers and motivations of families towards healthier lifestyles. This work has influenced a number of new campaigns, the first of which, an initiative to tackle the four key barriers to children eating fruit and vegetables, will be launched in the spring of 2007.
	The early years lifecheck (ELC) is a tool, which will support families to identify the help and support that they need to ensure that their child achieves the healthiest outcome possible. It builds upon the emphasis in 'Choosing Health' and 'Our Health, Our Care, Our Say' in enabling people to take responsibility for their own health.
	The ELC will support the aims set out in the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services and the Every Child Matters programme, to ensure that there is better and earlier identification of children's needs.
	The ELC will help to reduce health inequalities. Initial development and evaluation of the Life Check service is focusing on areas with the worst health and deprivation.
	The Healthy Start scheme was implemented across Great Britain in November 2006. The aim of the scheme is to support certain low income families in establishing a healthy diet. It provides vouchers that can be used to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and infant formula milk. The scheme also provides free Healthy Start vitamins for children up to their fourth birthday. All Healthy Start application forms are required to be signed by a health professional. This provides an opportunity for information to be provided to the family on breastfeeding, healthy eating, smoking cessation and other healthy lifestyle issues.

Chlamydia Infection: Screening

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what target has been set for strategic health authorities on Chlamydia screening for 15 to 24-year-olds as part of their local delivery plans;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with strategic health authorities on the Local Delivery Plan target for Chlamydia screening.

Caroline Flint: All strategic health authorities (SHAs) have been asked to plan for at least 15 per cent. of the population aged 15-24 accepting a test or screen for Chlamydia, by March 2008.
	The Department is currently agreeing local delivery plans for 2007-08 with all SHAs. Chlamydia screening plans are been discussed with each SHA as part of this process.

Chlamydia Infection: Screening

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has had with the National Chlamydia Screening Programme on the budget for phase three of the programme.

Caroline Flint: The operational management of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) was transferred to the Health Protection Agency in November 2005. Officials meet on a regular basis with the NCSP to discuss a number of issues including funding.
	Funding for the implementation of the NCSP is distributed to primary care trusts as part of their main allocation.

Community Hospitals

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 403-4W, on community hospitals, if she will list the six bids to the capital investment fund for community hospitals which were either withdrawn, refused or have outstanding queries.

Andy Burnham: The proposal for funding for the Newton Abbott hospital was rejected because it did not meet the criteria for funding. The proposals for a community health centre in Stoke on Trent and Rotherham primary care centre were withdrawn from wave one by the strategic health authorities, although the Rotherham proposal has been resubmitted as part of the second wave. Decisions are still outstanding on the following three schemesthe South Bristol community hospital, the Stamford and Rutland hospital and the Hornsey central hospital.

Community Hospitals: Hospital Beds

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of a  (a) temporary and  (b) permanent closure of 36 beds of a 68 bed community hospital on the level of service delivery by that hospital.

Caroline Flint: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to analyse their local situation and develop plans, in liaison with their local national health service trusts and primary care providers, to deliver high quality NHS services.

Community Nurses: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government is taking to enhance the skills and training of community matrons in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: It is for the local national health service to ensure that their staff have adequate skills and training to carry out their jobs.
	Across the country, including Hertfordshire, we have published a case management competency framework for the care of people with long-term conditions in 2005 to help employers understand the depth and breadth of the community matron role and higher education institutes to design appropriate training courses. In addition, Sheffield Hallam university was funded to develop a model education programme for community matrons. Results from this programme were included in Caring for people with long term conditions: an education framework for community matrons and case managers, published in 2006.

Dementia

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department plans to take to extend support offered to carers and relatives of people diagnosed with dementia.

Ivan Lewis: The Department recognises that carers and relatives of those with dementia have particular needs and concerns and we know that caring for and living with a person with dementia can be very demanding. Carers tell us that easy access to advice and a sympathetic ear are invaluable. We also know the importance that carers of people with dementia place in the availability of short-term care in times of emergency.
	Overall, this Government remain committed to supporting all carers and have recently unveiled a package of support for carers, many of whom will be supporting someone with dementia. The package includes 3 million per annum for a telephone helpline for carers and 25 million for the establishment of short-term, respite support in each council to cover crisis or emergency situations.
	This is in addition to the existing carers grant which is paid to councils to help them support carers with short breaks and other services. The carers grant is worth 185 million in the current financial year and will be worth the same in 2007-08.
	We recognise that the number of older people, particularly those over 85, is expected to rise sharply over the coming years with significant implications for public services and for health and social care in particular. We will assess proposals for the future provision of long-term care services as part of the long term vision of the comprehensive spending review 2007.

Departmental Leaflets

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many information leaflets were produced by her Department in each of the last 10 years.

Ivan Lewis: Between 1 October 2004 and 31 December 2006, the Department published 1,529 documents including information leaflets, command papers, guidance documentation and national health service staff bulletins.
	There is currently no mechanism for identifying which of these are specifically information leaflets and the Department has no central record for printed publications produced prior to 1 October 2004. To attempt to gather this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to implement the gender equality duty due to come into force on 6 April.

Rosie Winterton: The Department published a single equality scheme in December 2006 incorporating specific gender actions and has established a gender advisory group to advise the Department and act as a stakeholder forum when developing policy. The scheme will be further developed and refined in the light of comments received with a view to publishing an updated version in spring 2007.
	In addition, the Department is producing Creating a Gender Equality Scheme: A practical guide for the NHS which will be published in the next few weeks. The Department is also supporting the national health service to implement current and emerging public sector equality duties by working with 18 different NHS organisations to develop their own single equality schemes. The learning and development of good practice from this project will be disseminated throughout the NHS.

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to implement the Race Equality Duty since 2000.

Rosie Winterton: The Departments Single Equality Scheme, published in December 2006 sets out the way in which the Department intends to meet its duties under the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and the Sex Discrimination Act as amended by the Equality Act 2006. The Department will also progress action on Religion or Belief, Sexual Orientation and Age. This Scheme updates and replaces the Department's Race Equality Scheme.
	In addition, the Department has undertaken a number of activities to promote equality and diversity in the national health service and particularly to support the NHS to meet its responsibilities under the various equalities legislation on race, disability and gender as well as regulations on age, religion and belief and sexual orientation. These include:
	delivering Race Equality in mental health carean action plan for reform of NHS mental health services, working towards equality of access, equality of experience and equality of outcome for all mental health service users.
	the race for health programmeprimary care trust (PCT)-led with support from the Department. It convenes a network of 13 PCTs around the country, working in partnership with local black and minority ethnic communities to improve health, modernise services, increase choice and create greater diversity within the NHS workforce.
	developing and publishing 'Promoting Equality and Human Rights in the NHSa Guide for Board Members' aimed at helping non-executive board members take forward the issues of equality and human rights with regard to patients and the workforce.
	the Leadership and race equality action plan was launched in 2004 to give greater prominence to race equality in the NHS as part of the drive to improve health.

Diabetes

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what total expenditure by the NHS on diabetes was in each year since 2000-01.

Rosie Winterton: The figures are not available in the format requested. The report by Derek Wanless, Securing good health for the whole population: Final reportFebruary 2004, states that the total cost to the national health service of treating diabetes is 1.3 billion per year.

Diabetes

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of people with  (a) type 1 and  (b) type 2 diabetes in each year since 1997; how many finished episodes of care relating to the treatment of diabetes there have been in each year since 1997; what estimate she has made of the number of patients who will have each type of diabetes in 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Data on the number of people with diabetes are not collected centrally in the form requested.
	The number of patients diagnosed with diabetes identified by general practitioner (GP) practices in England in 2004-05 was 1.76 million people(1). Figures are not available for type 1 and type 2 diabetes separately.
	The number of patients diagnosed with diabetes identified by GP practices in England in 2005-06 was 1.89 million people(2). It is estimated that approximately 25 per cent. of people who have diabetes are currently undiagnosed, and so the actual number of people with the condition is likely to be significantly higher, perhaps over 2.3 million. Figures are not available for type one and type 2 diabetes separately.
	Projections suggest that in England, around 2.6 million people will have diabetes by 2010(3).
	 Sources
	(1) 2004-2005 quality and outcomes framework data published by the Health and Social Care information centre. This is the first year of data from this source.
	(2) 2005-06 quality and outcomes framework data published by the Health and Social Care information centre.
	(3) PBS diabetes prevalence model.
	
		
			  All diagnoses and primary diagnoses counts of finished consultant episodes for diabetesNHS hospitals, England: 1997-98 to 2005-06 
			   All diagnoses count of finished consultant episodes 
			 1997-98 413,340 
			 1998-99 454,632 
			 1999-2000 498,179 
			 2000-01 543,867 
			 2001-02 585,770 
			 2002-03 667,352 
			 2003-04 731,708 
			 2004-05 829,160 
			 2005-06 948,980 
			  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Health and Social Care Information Centre

Doctors: Training

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors are projected to qualify through Modernising Medical Careers in 2007.

Rosie Winterton: We are now recruiting for the first time to new specialty and general practice programmes set up under modernising medical careers. They will begin in August 2007. Programmes will vary in length from three to seven years and will be governed by new curricula approved by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB). Many of the doctors taking up places in the new programmes will have undertaken previous training and consequently will not need to start the new programmes at the beginning. We have made provision for them to compete for entry into the new programmes during the second or third years of those programmes. It is unlikely that many will qualify, that is, achieve a certificate of completion of training (issued by PMETB), in 2007. The needs of the national health service in 2007 and 2008 will, in the main, be met by the output of existing training programmes that will run alongside the modernising medical careers programmes for the time being.

Doctors: Vetting

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what checks are made of the  (a) qualifications and  (b) records of visiting surgeons performing operations in the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: All doctors who wish to work in the United Kingdom must register with the General Medical Council (GMC). The following documentary evidence is needed by the GMC to support their application:
	primary medical qualification;
	specialist medical qualification;
	licence to practice medicine;
	certificate of good standing from a regulatory body of the country they are practising;
	proof of nationality - passport or national identity card;
	curriculum vitae;
	International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate (if applicable); and
	current registration fee.
	As part of the process all overseas doctors must visit the GMC London office in person to undergo a pre-registration identity check. A photograph of the doctor will be taken and this will be made available to employers so they can be assured of the doctor's identity.
	Full registration enables doctors to work in any form of professional medical practice in the UK. Doctors must, however, also hold specialist registration to take up a consultant post (other than a locum consultant post) in the national health service. General practitioners (GPs) must be on the GP register.
	NHS trusts who recruit staff from abroad should carry out the necessary pre-appointment checks in accordance with NHS employers safer recruitment guidance. These checks should include:
	verification of identity;
	qualifications;
	registration;
	Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks;
	alert letters;
	Protection of Children Act (PoCA) check;
	references; and
	occupational health checks.

Executive Agencies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which executive agencies are the responsibility of her Department; what the function is of each agency; and what the budget was of each agency in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has two Executive agencies.
	 The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA):
	The function of MHRA is to enhance and safeguard the health of the public by ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe. They regulate a wide range of materials from medicines and medical devices to blood and therapeutic products/services that are derived from tissue engineering.
	MHRA operates as a trading fund and the costs of medicines regulations are met by fees charged to the pharmaceutical industry. Its income therefore depends on the demand for licenses for medicines. The devices function is funded by the Department.
	The net operating cost for 2005-06 was 21.594 million
	 Source:
	MHRA annual report
	 The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA):
	The role of the agency is to act as a centre of expertise, knowledge and excellence in purchasing and supply matters for the health service.
	The net operating cost for 2005-06 was 26.779 million.
	 Source:
	PASA annual report

General Practitioners

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to ensure that primary care trusts support general practitioners in their review of  (a) service redesign and  (b) care pathways; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Primary care trusts (PCTs) support primary care practitioners in reviewing service design and existing care pathways as part of practice based commissioning (PBC). All PCTs had in place arrangements to support PBC by December 2006, providing each practice with an indicative budget, information on activity, and an incentive to become engaged as well as putting in place a governance and accountability framework.
	New guidance published on 28 November 2006 sets out further obligations on PCTs to help advance PBC. The document sets out expectations that PCTs will:
	develop and offer locally agreed incentives for practices;
	address information needs (financial and activity) for practices in line with departmental guidelines and practice preferences;
	provide practices with the tools and support they need to effectively discharge their commissioning responsibilities, either directly or through agreed alternative arrangements; and
	use a combination of indicators to take a balanced view of practice engagement and the impact of PBC across the health economy.
	Strategic health authorities are expected to assure themselves that there is a quality framework in place to support PBC.

Government Auctions

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where her Department publishes information about Government auctions which it arranges or to which it contributes in  (a) Blackpool,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) the north west; and when the next such auction will take place in each area.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not make a routine contribution to Government auctions and no timetable of forthcoming events is therefore available. The Department has used auctions to dispose of surplus assets where it was considered that this means of disposal would achieve the best price.

Haemophilia: Blood Transfusions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment was made of the likely effect on affected people with haemophilia of receipt of the information before the decision was taken to write to them informing them of their at risk status for public health purposes in relation to vCJD; and what alternatives were considered before it was decided to write to them in the terms which were used.

Caroline Flint: No such specific assessment has been made. Patients have been notified through the clinicians who treat them for haemophilia and bleeding disorders. Those specialist clinicians are best placed to identify the specific needs of their patients.

Health Education: Water

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures she has taken to promote the health benefits of good hydration to the general public;
	(2)  what advice her Department has issued on the health effects of drinking enough water;
	(3)  if she will commission research into the health effects of drinking enough water;
	(4)  what assessment she has made of the comparative health effects of water and  (a) sweet,  (b) fizzy and  (c) high-caffeinated drinks.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that six to eight glasses (1.2 litres) of water, or other fluids, should be consumed every day to prevent dehydration. This amount should be increased when the weather is warm or when exercising.
	The FSA has commissioned no specific research on the health effects of drinking water but keeps abreast of research in this area.
	The FSA advises that food or drinks containing significant amounts of caffeine, such as coffee and some energy drinks, be consumed in moderation by children, pregnant women and others sensitive to caffeine. Cola drinks contain significantly lower levels of caffeine than coffee and caffeine-containing energy drinks and it is unlikely that their consumption by children would result in adverse effects. It also advises that fizzy and sugary drinks should be consumed sparingly and not between meals.

Health Services: Suffolk

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staff vacancy rate at the new Suffolk Primary Care Trust is  (a) as a percentage of all staff and  (b) broken down by occupation.

Andy Burnham: As Suffolk primary care trust came into existence only on 1 October 2006 information as to the vacancy rates is not currently available.

Healthy Start

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2007,  Official Report, column 41W, on the Healthy Start scheme, what arrangements she has made to monitor retail participation in Healthy Start.

Caroline Flint: The Healthy Start reimbursement unit recruits retailers to the Healthy Start scheme and maintains a database of currently active suppliers. It reports regularly to the Department on activities related to recruitment and payment of retailers or removal of registrations. The Department monitors reports provided and maintains a regular dialogue with the reimbursement unit to ensure that coverage of retailers across Great Britain is adequate, and that any policy or operational issues relating to retailer participation are addressed.

Heart Diseases: Screening

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the introduction of screening for abdominal aortic aneurisms; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (NSC) has advised that screening for men aged 65 for abdominal aortic aneurysms can be recommended in principle subject to further detailed work, particularly on the appropriate configuration of treatment services and the provision of information and support to enable men to make an informed choice about whether to undergo screening. The NSC is undertaking further work on abdominal aortic aneurysm screening and will consider this topic again at its next meeting in March 2007.
	The following table shows the representations that have been received on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms from 2002.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Adjournment debate 1 
			 Parliamentary questions 12 
			 Correspondence 27

Heart Diseases: Screening

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many investigations into screening were conducted by the national screening committee in each of the last five years; how many days each investigation took to complete; what the outcome was of each investigation; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The function of the United Kingdom National Screening Committee (NSC) is to advise Ministers on all aspects of screening policy. The major topics investigated over the last five years are listed as follows. The time taken to complete each investigation varies.
	 Screening for type 2 diabetes
	Feasibility of screening for type 2 diabetes in primary care was piloted from 2003 to 2005, with an independent evaluation report presented to the NSC in November 2006. The NSC concluded that screening certain subgroups of the population who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes was feasible and should be undertaken as part of an integrated programme to detect and manage cardio-vascular risk factors.
	 Bowel cancer screening
	Based on the final evaluation report of the pilot commissioned by the NSC, and a formal options appraisal, the NHS bowel cancer screening programme is inviting men and women aged 60 to 69 to be screened. When fully rolled out the programme will screen 2 million people and detect around 3,000 bowel cancers a year.
	 Chlamydia screening
	The national Chlamydia screening programme in England was established in 2003 after a successful one year pilot in Portsmouth and the Wirral. The programme is currently being rolled out and we expect to see national coverage during 2007.
	 Newborn hearing screening
	The screening of all newborn babies for deafness began in 20 pilot sites in England in 2001, and is now fully rolled out across England. The test identifies hearing loss and impairment on average two years earlier than previous methods. Over 1,600 newborn babies are screened each day at 122 sites in England.
	 Newborn bloodspot screening
	The evidence on screening for sickle cell, medium chain CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and cystic fibrosis have been assessed in the last five years and tests for these conditions have been, or are being added to the bloodspot programme.

Hospital Beds

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has had with the Suffolk Primary Care Trust in relation to the recent temporary closure of six beds at Walnuttree hospital in Sudbury.

Andy Burnham: Neither my right hon. Friend Secretary of State, her Ministers nor officials from the Department have had discussions with Suffolk primary care trust in relation to the temporary closure of six beds at Walnuttree hospital in Sudbury.

Hospital Beds: Greater London

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds were available at  (a) St. George's hospital, Tooting,  (b) Queen Mary's hospital, Roehampton,  (c) Kingston hospital, Kingston,  (d) Hammersmith hospital, Hammersmith,  (e) Charing Cross hospital, Hammersmith and  (f) Chelsea and Westminster hospital in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The information is not held in the requested format. However, the following table shows the data as held at national health service trust level.
	
		
			  Average daily number of available beds, selected NHS organisations in London, 1999-2000 to 2005-06 
			  Trust name  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Chelsea And Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust 456 481 509 509 503 449 462 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 1,128 1,056 1,021 1,021 1,037 1,071 945 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 562 575 590 576 585 599 596 
			 South West London Community NHS Trust 387 367 369 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 1,002 984 990 983 1,000 957 906 
			 Wandsworth PCT92 88 85 95 
			  Note:  At the end of 2001-02 South West London Community NHS Trust split to form parts of Wandsworth Primary Care Trust and Richmond and Twickenham Primary Care Trust  Source:  Department of Health dataset KH03

Medical Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which trusts have  (a) (i) permitted and (ii) endorsed the use of smart cards for the storage of patient records and  (b) shared patient records with other parties through the use of smart cards.

Caroline Flint: We are not aware that any trusts are routinely using smartcards for these purposes. The Department has considered use of smartcard technology to hold patient records, but has rejected it on grounds of patient safety and confidentiality. The use of smartcards, or equivalent tokens, has, however, been identified as having potential for authenticating patient access to patient records, and this continues to be explored as part of ongoing technical development within the national programme for information technology.

Medical Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what penalties are in place for  (a) hospitals and  (b) NHS staff who breach smartcard rules regarding access to the Care Records database.

Caroline Flint: Legal penalties for individuals and organisations misusing personal health and other information are provided for under section 60 of the Data Protection Act. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is on record as supporting the Information Commissioner in his call for these to be increased. Individual patients may also seek redress through the courts for breach of confidentiality.
	Other strong disincentives exist which protect against abuse of patient confidentiality. National health service organisations are responsible, as employers, for the actions taken on their behalf by their employees, and for disciplining their staff when they behave inappropriately. Accessing the care records service without a legitimate reason constitutes a breach of the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice. Staff who breach patient confidentiality are subject to professional disciplinary measures. Offending doctors and nurses will be reported to their professional regulatory bodies and may face additional disciplinary action, including losing their licence to practice. In the case of general practitioners, a primary care trust may take steps to remove a GP from its list on various grounds, which would include the protection of patients in these circumstances.
	The confidentiality of patient records is generally well understood by healthcare professionals. Substantial information is also being issued to frontline healthcare professionals in England about the care records service and how it will impact on their roles, and guidance on information governance. This is being done as part of a major exercise to prepare the NHS and then inform the public about the arrival of the service, its implications for their information and their health, and their options for participation.

Medical Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether accident and emergency staff will have access to  (a) sealed envelopes and  (b) sealed and locked envelopes in the patient record.

Caroline Flint: Clinical staff working within accident and emergency units will have access to the content of sealed envelopes, and locked and sealed envelopes, to the extent that these cover data entered by that A and E unit, and may have access to sealed, but not sealed and locked, envelopes covering data entered by other departments or organisations. In this latter case, access to the content of the sealed envelope is only authorised where a patient gives express consent or, rarely, when required or permitted by law.
	Patients have the right to restrict access to their clinical information, and clinicians responsible for treating them have a duty of care to explain to those who choose to do so the potential impact their decisions may have on their future care. If nonetheless a patient does not want important data to be available to A and E units, even though absence of that information may lead to future harm, they will have the right to seal the information.

Medical Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the basis is for the conclusion of the Care Record Development Board in its paper Sealed Envelopes Briefing Paper: Selective Alerting Approach that access to sealed envelopes will be relatively rare; and how many times a day the board expects sealed envelopes to be accessed in the average NHS trust.

Caroline Flint: All information held by a doctor about a patient is subject to the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, and patients' consent to share, and ability to limit the sharing of their care record, is covered by the NHS care record guarantee. It is not possible to predict precisely how often circumstances will arise requiring authorised users of the care records database to open sealed envelopes without patients' permission. In part this will depend upon the type of information that patients choose to seal. For example, the law requires some forms of communicable disease to be notified to the National Patient Safety Agency, so if a patient sealed information about this, the information would be extracted without the patient's permission. Where information is sealed it will be opened without specific permission only where there is an explicit statutory requirement to disclose information, as in the above example, where a court orders the disclosure, or where the public interest outweighs the patient's right to confidentiality, for example in cases of serious crime or where there are significant risks to other people. By their nature these will be very unusual circumstances.

National Blood Service: Reorganisation

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the number of National Blood Service processing and testing centres are being reduced from 11 to three; and why Red Cell Reference laboratories is to be removed from sites of major blood supply.

Caroline Flint: The National Blood Service (NBS) infrastructure is not fully adequate for modern processing and testing requirements. The testing and processing facilities require investment and modernisation which is planned as part of the national health service blood and transplant service strategy. The NBS plans to modernise its estate by investing in three blood processing and testing facilities. These will be located in Filton (Bristol), Manchester and Colindale. This configuration provides a good geographical spread of activity, maximising productivity, while maintaining adequate contingency and flexibility.
	This will not impact on the local availability of products and services to patients. NBS will maintain a network of local blood banks to ensure hospitals and patients continue to get the blood and blood components they need.
	NBS are aiming to reduce the number of red cell immunohaematology (RCI) reference facilities from the current 11 to five. Only by doing so can NBS be sure that there is a sufficient critical mass of the experienced, qualified staff required to deliver an expert reference immunohaematology service to hospitals, and that NBS have the necessary high quality facilities and equipment.
	The RCI laboratory locations have been chosen to provide good access by all hospitals served by the NBS, and are appropriate to support the delivery of required services. All remaining RCI laboratories will continue to be on the same site as blood issue centres, ensuring immediate access to blood for crossmatching.

National Blood Service: Reorganisation

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the effect on costs of blood transportation of moving to three blood processing and testing centres.

Caroline Flint: Transport and logistics were a key consideration in planning the new configuration of the National Blood Service (NBS). The new centre at Bristol (Filton) is due to open first and therefore more detailed work on the transport network in the south west has been carried out although the model used for Filton will also apply to the other two centres in Manchester and Colindale.
	As far as possible the NBS will be utilising existing transport runs and using the blood issue centres as hubs from which bulk deliveries will be made back to the processing and testing centre. There will be an increase in the mileage, although this is likely to be minimal, and the savings the NBS are making as a result of the reconfiguration of services far outweigh the increased cost of transport.

NHS Homeopathic Hospitals

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 57-8W, whether the Government's commitment to patient choice will enable patients to choose homeopathy from a local NHS homeopathic clinic or NHS homeopathic hospital.

Caroline Flint: The Government consider that decision-making on individual clinical interventions, whether conventional, or complementary alternative treatments, has to be a matter for local national health service providers and practitioners as they are best placed to know their community's needs. In making such decisions, they have to take into account evidence for the safety, clinical and cost-effectiveness of any treatments, the availability of suitably qualified practitioners, and the needs of the individual patient. Clinical responsibility rests with the NHS professional who makes the decision to refer and who must therefore be able to justify any treatment they recommend. If they are unconvinced about the suitability of a particular treatment, they cannot be made to refer. Decisions on spending on any complementary and alternative medicine treatments are therefore the responsibility of the NHS.

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether funding for existing hospitals will be adjusted to account for the  (a) change in volume of work and  (b) change in complexity of cases following the introduction of independent sector treatment centres; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Payment by results currently applies only to services commissioned from national health service trusts and foundation trusts. Independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) are paid contract prices, which reflect the outcome of a competitive tendering exercise conducted at national level.
	NHS trusts and foundation trusts continue to be paid for activity at the national tariff, which is based on national average costs reported by NHS organisations.

NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many  (a) day beds and  (b) overnight beds will be provided at the proposed independent sector treatment centre in Basildon, Essex;
	(2)  how many staff are planned to be employed at the proposed independent sector treatment centre in Basildon, Essex in each of the first five years of its operation, broken down by  (a) occupation and  (b) seniority;
	(3)  what specialities will be provided by the independent sector treatment centre in Basildon, Essex; and when each will be available.

Andy Burnham: The elective component of the Essex Independent Sector Treatment Centre (ISTC) scheme is expected to include the following specialities:
	Orthopaedics;
	Ophthalmology;
	general surgery;
	urology;
	orthodontics; and
	endoscopy.
	These procedures will be accompanied by follow-up outpatient appointments, including appropriate rehabilitation therapies (for example, physiotherapy and occupational therapy), as necessary in accordance with good clinical practice, to complete the episode of care. The majority of services are expected to commence from September 2008.
	The scheme is expected to employ approximately 400 whole time equivalent clinical and non-clinical staff across the county, allocated to the various services to be provided.
	As contract negotiations are still ongoing, the locations of Essex ISTCs (including a potential site in Basildon), precise staff numbers, roles, experience, skills sets, and proposed specifications (including day case beds and overnight beds) for anticipated ISTCs are still to be finalised.

NHS Walk-in Centres

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have used NHS walk-in centres in the West Midlands since they first opened, broken down by centre.

Andy Burnham: Information on patient attendances at national health service walk-in centres in the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area is set out in the following table. From 2000 when the first NHS walk-in centre opened, data were collected on activity at each centre. Since March 2003, data have however been collected at primary care trust (PCT) or NHS trust level. The Department is not aware that any of the PCTs in West Midlands has more than one NHS walk-in centre within its area but walk-in services are commissioned locally and returns to the Department may therefore include other local walk-in service activity in addition to information on the centres listed in the table.
	
		
			  West Midlands SHA: NHS walk-in centre activity 
			  NHS walk-in centre/PCT or NHS trust  NHS walk-in centre opening date  Total attendances to December 2006 
			 Birmingham City/Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 27 March 2000 235,120 
			 Coventry/Coventry Teaching PCT 11 December 2000 220,758 
			 Stoke on Trent( Haywood)/University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust 12 June 2000 212,125 
			 Walsall/Walsall Teaching PCT 28 February 2001 160,373 
			 Rugby/ Warwickshire PCT 10 May 2006 2,887 
			 Wolverhampton/Wolverhampton City PCT 1 January 2007 0

NHS Walk-in Centres

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how she plans to ensure continued funding for NHS walk-in centres in the West Midlands.

Andy Burnham: This is a matter for the local primary care trusts and the West Midlands strategic health authorities. National health service walk-in centres are now funded locally on a similar basis to other front line services.

NHS: Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to reduce the cost of drugs to the NHS.

Caroline Flint: It is important that we have fair prices which give value for money to the taxpayer. The 2005 pharmaceutical price regulation scheme included a 7 per cent, price reduction for branded prescription medicines, which will save the national health service more than 1.8 billion over the five year agreement. We have also reduced the prices of generics by 1 billion over the last four years. However, we also recognise the importance of the pharmaceutical industry to health care and the development of medical advances and it is in all of our interests to encourage research and reward innovation.

NHS: Equal Opportunities

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps her Department plans to take to meet the gender equality duty in the Equality Act 2006; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what advice her Department has given to primary care trusts on how to consult and engage with stakeholders in meeting the requirements of the gender equality duty required by the Equality Act 2006; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what target outcomes her Department has set for primary care trusts to achieve as required by the gender equality duty in the Equality Act 2006; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what  (a) advice,  (b) support,  (c) funding and  (d) training her Department has made available to primary care trusts to meet the requirements of the gender equality duty in the Equality Act 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department published a single equality scheme in December 2006 incorporating specific gender actions and has established a gender advisory group to advise the Department and act as a stakeholder forum when developing policy. The scheme will be further developed and refined in the light of comments received with a view to publishing an updated version in spring 2007.
	It is for individual national health service bodies to satisfy themselves that they comply with the requirements of the Equality Act. However, to assist them in doing so the Department is producing 'Creating a Gender Equality Scheme: A practical guide for the NHS' which will be published in the next few weeks and which includes specific guidance on consultation and involvement of stakeholders. The Department is also supporting the NHS to implement current and emerging public sector equality duties by working with 18 different NHS organisations to develop their own single equality schemes. The learning and development of good practice from this project will be disseminated throughout the NHS.

NHS: Finance

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure was on  (a) the NHS,  (b) NHS hospital and community health services and  (c) NHS maternity services in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: The following table reports, from 1997-98 to 2005-06, the total expenditure on the national health service, NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS) and NHS maternity services.
	
		
			  Expenditure 
			   million 
			   NHS  HCHS  Maternity services 
			 1997-98 33,575 22,824 1,044 
			 1998-99 35,801 24,382 1,096 
			 1999-2000 39,293 26,119 1,156 
			 2000-01 42,686 28,774 1,258 
			 2001-02 47,289 32,190 1,325 
			 2002-03 51,935 33,214 1,257 
			 2003-04 61,583 36,364 1,350 
			 2004-05 66,473 42,932 1,547 
			 2005-06 73,697 46,399 1,672 
			  Notes: 1. NHS expenditure is the total NHS net revenue expenditure. NHS expenditure is a on a cash basis pre 1999-2000 (inclusive) and a resource basis post 1999-2000. Resource budgeting was introduced in two stages. Phase one (2000-01 to 2002-03) included debtors and creditors, and phase two (2003-04 onwards) applies full resource budgeting. 2. NHS expenditure figures include a technical adjustment from 2003-04 for trust depreciation. 3. The HCHS and maternity expenditure does not include spending on family health services and primary care prescribing. HCHS and maternity services expenditure are derived from summarised accounts on commissioning expenditure and the HCHS figures include purchase of healthcare from non-NHS providers. 4. Changes to accounting practices and a number of technical adjustments means that the data over time periods are not strictly comparable.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total overall funding allocation to primary care trusts was in each year since 2002-03; and what proportion of the total NHS budget this represented in each year.

Andy Burnham: The information requested has been set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Total national health service expenditure ( million)  Primary care trust revenue resource limit( 1)  Allocation as a proportion of total NHS budget (percentage) 
			 2002-03 (2)58,566 44,916 77 
			 2003-04 64,184 49,042 76 
			 2004-05 69,308 57,442 83 
			 2005-06 76,339 62,275 82 
			 (1) PCT consolidated accounts. (2) 2002-03 expenditure has been represented on a consistent stage two resource accounting basis as subsequent years.

NHS: Finance

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 537-38W, on NHS finance, on what basis the planned reconsideration of the future functions and remit of the NHS Bank has been deemed necessary; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The NHS bank's historic role has been to facilitate cash brokerage between strategic health authorities and to perform an advisory function to the Department in the management of centrally held budgets. Changes to the financial regime for national heath service trusts, including the replacement of informal brokerage with a transparent system of loans to support historic cash problems, coupled with the bundling of central budgets to be managed locally by strategic health authorities, means a change in the NHS bank functions is required. There is an ongoing requirement for an NHS advisory function to the department, which is being considered currently.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the future availability targets are for choose and book; what the March targets are; and whether choose and book is on track to achieve all those targets.

Caroline Flint: The national health service operating framework for 2006-07 set a target that 90 per cent. of general practitioners referrals to first consultant-led outpatient services should be made through the choose and book system by March 2007. This was reconfirmed in the Operating Framework for 2007-08 with the aim of moving towards a position where choose and book is the standard safe and secure method for all referrals.
	90 per cent utilisation by the end of March 2007 is set to be achieved in a number of primary care trusts, but not in aggregate for England as a whole.

NHS: ICT

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of doctors' surgeries and general practices in Bedfordshire have the Choose and Book IT system installed; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: 51 of 71 general practices within Bedfordshire Primary Care Trust area are live with Choose and Book, and are making bookings. This represents some 72 per cent. of the total.

NHS: Vacancies

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there were in the NHS for  (a) junior doctors,  (b) consultants and  (c) nurses in (i) 2005 and (ii) 2006; and how many there are predicted to be in 2007.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally. Information on vacancies that had lasted for more than three months and that trusts had been actively trying to fill is available since 1999 and can be found on the information centre's website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/vacsurveyresmar2006
	Copies have also been placed in the Library.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by her Department; what the function is of each body; and what the budget was of each body in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: Details of the remit, Government funding and gross expenditure of public bodies sponsored by the Department can be found in the Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies 2006, copies of which are available in the Library and which is also available online at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/publications/pdf/public-bodies/publicbodies2006.pdf

Obesity

Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department expects to publish its Obesity Action Plan.

Caroline Flint: The Government's strategy towards tackling obesity has already been published through the Choosing Health: Obesity Bulletin published in May of 2006. The Government's formal response to the Public Accounts Committee eighth report of 2006-07 on tackling child obesity will set out the further plan of action.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what response she has made to the representations sent to her by English NHS patients on the decision by the Welsh Assembly Government to fund free prescriptions in Wales;
	(2)  what effect the recent decision by the Welsh Assembly Government to fund free prescriptions will have on  (a) English NHS patients accessing NHS services in Wales and  (b) Welsh patients accessing NHS services in England; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The decision to fund free prescriptions in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government. There will be no changes to the current arrangements for English national health service patients accessing NHS services in Wales. The English charging arrangements will continue to apply the same as if the prescription was dispensed in England. Welsh patients accessing NHS services in England will be subject to the English charging arrangements with the exception of those patients in border areas who are resident in Wales but registered with English general practitioner practices. We understand that they will be issued with an entitlement card that will allow them to receive free prescriptions from Welsh pharmacies.

Primary Health Care

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what strategy her Department has in place to deliver secondary care services in primary care  (a) in Bedfordshire and  (b) in England; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to ensure doctors' surgeries and general practices can undertake the shift in patient services from the secondary sector to primary care; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: How services are delivered locally is a matter for practice based commissioners in collaboration with primary care trusts and local people to decide; there is therefore no centrally driven strategy to deliver secondary care services in primary care in Bedfordshire.
	However as we set out in 'Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: a new direction for community services' it is our aim for more services to be provided in settings that are convenient for patients and there are a number of mechanisms in place to facilitate this including:
	a 750 million capital investment fund to support the development of more community hospitals and facilities to deliver care closer to people's homes;
	the opportunity for primary care practitioners through practice based commissioning to decide what services should be commissioned locally and to provide more services themselves; and
	new advice about commissioning services from accredited practitioners with special interests.
	In addition in the summer we will be publishing a report about how services in six speciality areas can be delivered in settings that are more convenient for patientsthis report will be based on existing practice in shifting care.

Primary Health Care

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is available to ensure doctors' surgeries and general practices can access funds to invest in appropriate premises to undertake the shift in patient services from the secondary sector to primary care; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: We are making 750 million capital funding available over the next five years to fund community hospitals and services. The intention is that this funding is used to fund the development of services that deliver more care in settings that are convenient for patients such as community hospitals, primary care centres and services that can be provide in people's homes.
	There is also the local improvement finance trust initiative which increasingly is being used to build health centres that provide services that would formerly have been based in hospitals, saving patients long journeys to hospital. These centres also contain a variety of health and social services, so that general practitioners, social workers, a pharmacy and outpatient clinics are all under one roofagain, avoiding the need for journeys between each of these services. To date, primary care trusts (PCTs) have commissioned 1 billion worth of facilities under this initiative.
	In addition we have recently announced a 30 per cent. increase in the operational capital allocations for PCTs. This funding can also be used to build new facilities that deliver more services closer to people's homes.

Public Health Improvement

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what campaigns her Department has run to improve public health since May 1997; what the cost was of each; and what assessment she has made of the impact on the relevant health indicators in the following year in each case.

Caroline Flint: The following table outlines the cost of departmental campaigns undertaken to improve public health since May 1997.
	
		
			   million 
			  Campaign  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Antibiotics  0.27 1.25  0.78 0.59 1.02  0.39 
			 CALM 0.49 0.12 0.51 0.64 0.38 0.58 0.43 0.44 0.32 
			 Drugs (1)   1.75 2.62 3.26 
			 Flu 0.23 0.28 0.08 4.32 1.45 2.40 1.95 2.25 2.32 
			 Hepatitis C   0.15 0.70 1.28 
			 Immunisation 1.67 2.36 3.63 3.10 1.35 
			 Mental health, Mind Out 0.97 1.01 1.62   
			 Sexwise/teenage pregnancy 0.79 0.85 1.23 3.85 2.44 1.97 2.15   
			 Sexual Health 0.30 1.50 1.60 1.27 0.62 
			 Smoking   15.50 13.73 12.30 11.56 23.41 26.50 30.50 
			 TB awareness 0.30 0.09 0.01 0.20  
			 5 A DAY0.50 0.50 0.48 1.03 0.90 0.92 
			 (1) Departmental contribution to the Frank substance misuse campaign is jointly funded by the Department, Home Office (HO) and Department for Education and Skills (DfES) 
		
	
	Each campaign is only one of a number of interventions in the drive to improve public health. It is not possible to separate the impact of these campaigns from that of other interventions or factors which may have influenced public behaviour over the period in question.
	 Antibiotics
	As a result of an increase in the number of strains of bacteria developing resistance the Department launched a publicity campaign, aimed at health professionals and the general public, in 1999-2000 to encourage sensible prescribing and use of antibiotics.
	The ongoing publicity campaigns inform the public not to routinely expect antibiotics for coughs and colds as antibiotics only work on bacterial infections, and not on most coughs and colds or viral infections. As well as posters and leaflets we also provided general practitioners with pads of non-prescription forms that could be given to patients explaining why the doctor was not prescribing an antibiotic.
	Evaluations have shown that the public has understood the key messages and we believe that they will have contributed to the decrease in antibiotic prescribing in the community.
	 Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
	The suicide rate in young men is coming down but we do not have direct evidence of the effect or influence of the CALM campaign on that reduction.
	This Department campaign came to and end on 31 March 2006. From 1 April 2006 CALM became a charity, not sponsored by the Department.
	 Drugs
	The FRANK drugs information campaign funded jointly by the Department, the Home Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs targets young people aged 11 to 21 years, particularly vulnerable young people, and the parents or carers of 11-18 year olds. It provides a gateway for information and advice about the effects and risks of drugs, local treatment services and drugs and the law.
	The campaign contributes towards the Department's public service agreement (PSA) target to increase the participation of problem drug users in drug treatment programmes by 100 per cent. by 2008 (from 1998) and increase year on year the proportion of users successfully sustaining or completing treatment programmes.
	The PSA target was exceeded in 2005-06 with 181,390 users going in to treatment. The FRANK campaign is now placing particular emphasis on meeting the needs of vulnerable young people as well as supporting a wider programme of activity in support of the joint DfES/Home Office target to reduce the numbers of young people using drugs.
	In the two years to April 2006 the talk to FRANK campaign website received over 10 million hits with 500,000 hits to its treatment pages. Over the same period the FRANK helpline received 1.6 million calls and answered 107,000 emails. The helpline has directed over 45,000 young people to treatment services.
	 Flu
	The seasonal influenza campaign in the United Kingdom has made considerable progress in increasing the coverage of the at-risk and target population, set against the World Health Organisation 2010 target of 75 per cent. The UK has already achieved this target and among European countries is one of the highest achievers.
	 Hepatitis C awareness campaign (FaCe It)
	One of the main aims of the hepatitis C awareness campaign (FaCe It) is to increase diagnosis and there are two national outcome indicators, drawn from epidemiological surveillance by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), intended to track this.
	The first indicator is the total number of laboratory confirmed hepatitis C infection reports. There has been a significant increase in hepatitis C diagnoses in England reported to the HPA through national surveillance from around 5,600 in 2002 to around 7,600 in 2005.
	The second indicator is the proportion of injecting drug users attending treatment and support agencies who are aware of their hepatitis C infection. The proportion of those who are aware of their hepatitis C infection has increased from 42 per cent. in 2002 to 52 per cent. in 2005.
	Research into awareness among general practitioners/practices nurses and the public indicates that awareness of hepatitis C has increased since the campaign began.
	 Immunisation programme
	The routine immunisation programme in the UK aims to protect all babies and children from the age of two months onwards. The serious diseases that the programme protects against includeDiphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough (pertussis), Hib ( Haemophilus influenzae type b), Polio, Meningitis C, Pneumococcal infection, measles, mumps, rubella.
	The impact of advertising and other communication materials are regularly monitored through public surveys involving around 2,000 parents each year. From this we know that more than 70 per cent. of parents use our printed material and that recall of TV advertising is high. Health professionals have a high awareness of, and positive reactions to, the Department/Immunisation Information materials available.
	 Mind out for mental health
	In March 2001, the Department launched a national campaign, mind out for mental health, aimed at tackling the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems. The campaign was aimed at key groups such as employers, the media and young people; as well as the public in general, to help raise awareness of mental health issues and put an end to stigma and discrimination. This campaign came to an end on 31 March 2004. We believe the campaign has been a positive presence but do not have direct evidence of any impact on health indicators.
	 Teenage pregnancy
	Work around reducing teenage pregnancy is based on a number of different strands, one of which is the national campaigning work. It is therefore impossible to separate out these strands when it comes to assessing the overall effectiveness of the work.
	Teenage pregnancy rates are falling. Between the 1998 baseline year and 2004 (the latest year for which data are available) the under-18 conception rate has fallen by 11.1 per cent, and the under-16 rate has fallen by 15.2 per cent. Both rates are now at their lowest level for 20 years.
	 Sexual health
	Evaluation of the sex lottery campaign December 2002 to December 2004, focused primarily on campaign recognition, perceptions about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and condom usage.
	In terms of awareness of advertising about STIs, non-promoted awareness increased from 35 per cent. at the start to 53 per cent. by the end of the campaign.
	In addition, there were some significant shifts in attitudes to STIs throughout the life of the campaign in particular in terms of potential risk (the risk of getting an STI has increasedmore than 11 per cent.) and in terms of protection (It does not matter how many partners someone has as long as they are careful, i.e. use a condommore than 9 per cent).
	These changes in attitude are being built on as part of the new adult sexual health campaign, condom essential wear, which was launched in November 2006. Based on social marketing principles the new campaign aims to bring about positive behavioural change in regard to sexual health.
	Behavioural change takes time and will therefore need to be measured over a number of years. Attitudes and behavioural indicators were benchmarked in November 2006 and the fieldwork for the first phase of campaign evaluation is due to commence in early March 2007.
	 Smoking
	A comprehensive strategy to tackle smoking and to reduce the deaths caused by smoking has been in place since publication of Smoking Kills in 1998. The strategy focuses on action to discourage people from starting to smoke and to provide support for all smokers, of whatever age and sex, who wish to quit. We are aiming to create a climate where non-smoking is the norm.
	We have banned almost all tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion; introduced strong tobacco pack health warnings; and from December 1999 run highly effective national anti-smoking education campaigns raising awareness of the health damage of smoking and secondhand smoke. People who wish to give up smoking can get help from the national health service stop smokinga world leading programme we set up.
	In 2006, Parliament passed the Health Act which includes provision for the prohibition of smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces. This will mean every pub, club, membership club, cafe, restaurant, shopping centre, office and public and work transport will become smoke-free on Sunday 1 July 2007, when the legislation is implemented.
	The Government's strategy has helped reduce smoking rates in England from 28 per cent. in 1998 to 24 per cent. in terms of 2005 populations, the latest year for which figures are available, meaning around 1.6 million fewer smokers in England. These are the lowest smoking rates in England on record and indicate that the Government is on track to meet the PSA target of 21 per cent. or lower smoking prevalence in 2010.
	 Tuberculosis
	No research has been undertaken into the effectiveness of this campaign.
	5 A DAY
	DEFRA's annual Household Expenditure Survey for 2005-06 (published in January 2007) recorded the biggest increase in fruit and vegetables purchases (7.7 per cent.) for over 20 years. This was aligned to a 6 per cent. decrease in confectionery sales.
	The Food Standards Agency Consumer Attitudes Survey 2005 showed that 67 per cent. of people are now aware that they should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, up from 43 per cent. in 2000.
	The 5 A DAY logo was launched by Department on 25 March 2003 and over 550 organisations are licensed to use it. The 5 A DAY logo now appears on over 700 fruit and vegetable products in shops and restaurants.

Rapid Review Panel

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on which dates the Rapid Review Panel met since December 2003; how many product assessments the panel undertook since December 2003; how many assessed products were recommended to her Department for use in the NHS; how many products were recommended for use by the NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency; and how many products in use by the NHS were recommended by the panel.

Ivan Lewis: The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) has met 12 times since its first meeting. It met on the 24 August 2004, 29 November 2004, 26 January 2005, 24 February 2005, 25 May 2005, 14 July 2005, 18 October 20058, 23 March 2006, 9 May 2006, 7 July 2006, 21 September 2006 and 12 December 2006.
	The panel has undertaken 168 assessments since its first meeting.
	Three products have demonstrated sufficient basic research and development, validation and recent in use evaluations to enable the RRP to conclude that the products have shown benefits that should be available to the national health service.
	The NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency (PASA) does not recommend particular products. PASA's Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing has published a report confirming that there is significant potential for benefit from using Bard catheters, which are one of the three recommendation one products (basic research and development, validation and recent in use evaluations have shown benefits that should be available to NHS bodies to include as appropriate in their cleaning, hygiene or infection control protocols). Early data suggest that NHS Supply Chain are supplying 31 trusts including some primary care trusts and hospitals with Bard catheters with sales totalling around 60,000.
	The Department does not have full information on the use of these three recommendation one products as infection control products do not have to be purchased through NHS Supply Chain.
	A number of recommendation two products (basic research and development has been completed and the product may have potential value; in use evaluations and trials are now needed in an NHS clinical setting) are already incorporated into NHS Supply Chain strategic resourcing arrangements, listed to be included in particular contracting rounds, or being evaluated in departmental funded studies.

Tarceva

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to report on the drug Tarceva.

Caroline Flint: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is expected to issue final guidance to the national health service on Tarceva for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in April 2007.

Translation Services

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what services provided by her Department and its related agencies translation services are provided.

Ivan Lewis: The Department translates a range of documents into alternative languages. These materials include public information leaflets, correspondence and guidance documentation.
	There is currently no central record of the translation activities of related agencies, and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Tuberculosis: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diagnoses of tuberculosis there were in each London borough in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Cases of tuberculosis in each London borough in 2005 
			  Local authority  Number of case reports 
			 Barking and Dagenham 59 
			 Barnet 116 
			 Bexley 22 
			 Brent 285 
			 Bromley 30 
			 Camden 106 
			 City of London 2 
			 Croydon 114 
			 Ealing 240 
			 Enfield 103 
			 Greenwich 87 
			 Hackney 133 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 133 
			 Haringey 90 
			 Harrow 133 
			 Havering 30 
			 Hillingdon 137 
			 Hounslow 167 
			 Islington 83 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 46 
			 Kingston 27 
			 Lambeth 145 
			 Lewisham 99 
			 Merton 63 
			 Newham 259 
			 Redbridge 120 
			 Richmond upon Thames 19 
			 Southwark 141 
			 Button 24 
			 Tower Hamlets 129 
			 Waltham Forest 116 
			 Wandsworth 124 
			 Westminster, City of 97 
			 Total 3,479 
			  Note: Data as at 19 February 2007. 2006 data are not yet available.  Source: Health Protection Agency enhanced tuberculosis surveillance.

Turnaround Programme

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Northavon of 15 January 2007,  Official Report, column 930W, on the turnaround programme, how many strategic health authority turnaround directors have been appointed since February 2006.

Andy Burnham: 11 turnaround directors were appointed in February 2006 to work with the strategic health authorities.

University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Exceptional Income (SHA Bank Support), as stated in appendix C of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust's Financial Performance Report for the month ending 30 November 2006, is in-year financial support; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The three strategic health authorities (SHAs) that merged to form the NHS West Midlands SHA created a reserve from contributions made by primary care trusts in their areas. This reserve was allowed to be used to offset costs associated with major service restructuring and increased activity on patient care by local trusts, including the University Hospital of North Staffordshire national health service trust. These arrangements are in line with the Department's operating framework for the NHS in 2006-07.

Vaccination

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department maintains a three-month stock of routine use vaccines.

Caroline Flint: The Department aims to maintain a three-month stock of vaccines for the routine childhood immunisation programme.

Walnuttree Hospital

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the safety of staffing levels at Walnuttree Hospital, Sudbury.

Caroline Flint: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to analyse their local situation and develop plans, in liaison with their local national health service trusts and primary care providers, to deliver high quality NHS services.